Turkey vows every initiative to protect firms against US bans

The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman says Ankara will take every initiative to protect its firms against new US sanctions.

Hami Aksoy made the comments at a news conference on Friday, a day after the United States imposed new sanctions against nine Iranian and Turkish individuals and companies as well as a number of aircraft providing goods and services to four Iranian airlines in a move aimed at targeting Iranian airlines.

The Treasury Department claimed in a statement that Caspian Airlines and Pouya Air had ferried weapons, troops and money to Iran's allies in Syria and Lebanon and threatened to levy sanctions against the entities which grant landing rights and provide services to their aircraft.

Iran has said it would remain in the JCPOA for now, pending negotiations with the other signatories in the coming weeks before making a final decision on its future role in the agreement. Tehran wants the Europeans to give it clear-cut guarantees about fulfilling their obligations if it remains in the accord.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday US enmity toward Iran is deep but all American plots against the country have failed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

During a meeting with heads of the three branches of the Iranian government as well as officials in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to what he called “the fundamental, deep and constant enmity” of the United States toward the Islamic Republic and said Iran would definitely defeat the US if Iranian officials fulfill their duty.

Elsewhere in the presser, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that his country had fulfilled all requirements to obtain Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets from the United States.

Aksoy added that Ankara expected all sides to carry out their responsibilities.

Turkey intends to purchase more than 100 F-35 jet fighters, and has had talks with US officials about the likely purchase of Patriot anti-air missiles as well.

SS