Iran Reiterates Necessity for Turkey to Stop Military Operations in Syria

"What has happened in Syria by Turkey should stop and Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected because if this process continues, it will help the terrorists to return," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi told reporters in his press conference in Tehran on Monday.

He warned that the terrorists still continue activities in Syria, and said, "Turkey should pursue issues within the framework of Astana talks and pay attention to Damascus views."

"We are in contact and consultations with both sides," Qassemi said.

The Iranian foreign ministry had also in January called on Ankara to immediately end military operations against the Syrian border city of Afrin which is controlled by Kurds, warning that the invasion could create the needed chaos for the terrorist groups to resume operations in the region.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is following up the current developments in the town of Afrin in Syria closely and with concern and hopes that the operations will immediately end to prevent further deepening and spread of crisis at the Turkish-Syrian bordering areas," Qassemi said last month.

"Continued crisis in Afrin can strengthen the Takfiri-terrorist groups in Northern Syria again and will ignite again the fire of war and destruction in the country," he added.

Qassemi underlined the necessity for respecting Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, calling on all sides, specially the Turkish government, to remain committed to the objective of the political settlement of the crisis in Syria, specially through the Astana process.

He also warned of the illegal and provocative meddling by the trans-regional states, including Washington, and the Israeli regime in Syria, adding that while the US forces and their allied Takfiri-terrorist groups continue their illegitimate presence in Syria, the crisis will not end in the country.

Ankara has launched a new air and ground operation around the area of Afrin in Syria to oust the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).

Ankara opened a new front in Syria’s nearly seven-year-old war on January 20, launching airstrikes against Kurdish fighters in Afrin in Aleppo province.

According to reports, Turkish tanks are supporting the Free Syrian Army’s ground offensive on Kurdish positions in Syria’s Afrin region, as operation "Olive Branch" has started.

The Syrian government has condemned the “brutal Turkish aggression” against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, rejecting Ankara’s claim about having informed Damascus of the operation.