Ankara will stand against any aggression on Iran from Turkish soil

09 October 2011 | 01:28 Code : 16849 Latest Headlines

Mehr News - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that Ankara will not allow any country to commit a military aggression against Iran from the Turkish territory.

Ankara has agreed to host an early warning radar as part of NATO’s missile defense system, which is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile threat from Iran. The Islamic Republic has expressed disapproval of the decision.

In a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Mohammad Ali Fathollahi in Ankara on Friday, Davutoglu also said Turkey will not also allow any country to use its soil to take a measure meant to defend the Zionist regime.

Turkey has tried to allay Iran’s concerns about the radar system. In an interview with CNN on September 25, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, “I am speaking very frankly. Unless Turkey is attacked, we will never allow Iran to be attacked from the Turkish territory.”

Historic era

The top Turkish diplomat went on to say that “we are living in a historic era in which the new political landscape of the region is emerging.”

Davutoglu said Tehran and Ankara as regional powers can have an impact on the new landscape through mutual cooperation.

Fathollahi, for his part, called Iran-Turkey ties friendly and emphasized the importance of expanding relations in all spheres.

Commenting on the latest developments in the region, Fathollahi expressed hope that regional countries would prepare the ground for the establishment of peace and stability in the region through resolving their internal problems.