TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have urged restraint by Turkey and Russia over warplane issue.
“Russia and Turkey are both friend and neighbor of the Islamic Republic of Iran and it is important for us that our neighbors have friendly ties,” Rouahni said told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
However, Rouhani said warplanes are not “toys to be shot down” and described the act as “very dangerous”.
Turkish forces shot down a Russian warplane near Syrian border on November 24. Ankara said it downed the warplane after it violated Turkey’s airspace while on other hand Russia claimed the fighter jet was downed over Syrian territory.
Iranian President advised Turkey to be “careful about the situation” due to its sensitivity.
He added that both countries should take cautionary actions, prevent reoccurrence of such events and be patient enough.
Terrorism is the main threat to the Middle East region and has undermined regional security, he said, adding that efforts should be focused on countering terrorism.
“We call for restraint, because these developments benefit the terrorists,” Foreign Minister Zarif said during a joint press conference with Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in Tehran.
Iranian Majlis speaker also called the Turkish act in downing the Russian warplane a “great mistake” and the United State’s support for this act a “greater mistake”.
In a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said such incidents will further “escalate the tension and complicate the situation” in Syria.
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