Iran calls on Syria, Turkey to show restraint over border tensions

 (Xinhua) -- Iran has called on Syria and Turkey to exercise restraint amid mounting border tensions, Tehran Times daily reported Saturday.

"Such incidents have no objective but to undermine friendship and brotherhood between the peoples of neighboring countries," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

Iran will continue its "well-intentioned" efforts to resolve the problems facing Syria and believes that dialogue is the only solution to the current problems, said the spokesman.

On Friday, Turkish army fired back at targets in Syria for a third straight day after a Syrian mortar shell fell in a non- residential area in Turkish southern province of Hatay amid cross- border attacks, Turkish NTV news channel reported.

Turkey started the military strikes on Syrian targets on Wednesday after mortar shells from the Syrian side killed five Turks in Akcakale, a border town in Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province.

Chairman of Iranian Armed Forces' Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Hassan Firouzabadi, said Friday that Syria and Turkey should realize that the United States wants a war between the two Muslim countries, Press TV reported.

"This war is what the U.S. wants and the officials of the two countries (of Syria and Turkey) should move towards non- interference in each other's affairs in order to see peace on the borders," Firouzabadi was quoted as saying.

He noted that war cannot make up for the two countries' mistakes and will only face both Syria and Turkey with major challenges.

The Iranian commander expressed hope that Turkish and Syrian officials would successfully weather this critical juncture as "no one wants to see war between two Muslim states."

"There is always an opportunity for dialogue, but the flames of war burn all such opportunities," said Firouzabadi.