Iran dismisses Erdogan’s allegations of Tehran’s interference in Iraq, Syria

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi has dismissed recent anti-Tehran remarks by the Turkish president, stressing that promoting security in the region has been among the Islamic Republic’s main foreign policies.

“Iran’s top priority in the region is [to help] stability and security,” Qassemi said on Wednesday, adding that calm would not be restored in the region unless positive players were distinguished from those who seek chaos and support terrorists, Press TV reported.

In a recent visit to Bahrain, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly accused Iran of seeking to destabilize Iraq and Syria.

It seems that the remarks made by President Erdogan were made out of emotion, Qassemi said, adding that the Turkish president "is well aware of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s constructive and stabilizing role in the region, especially in Iraq.”

The Iranian official said that Tehran had been assisting Baghdad in its fight against Takfiri terrorist groups at the official request of the Iraqi government.  

“Supporting terrorist groups..., using them as a tool, and failing to respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries have caused concern and prolonged instability in the region,” he noted.  

Iran has been providing advisory military support to both Iraq and Syria in their campaign against terrorism at the request of the two countries’ governments.

SS