Turkey Urges Joint Efforts for Regional Stability

TEHRAN (defapress) – Turkey’s Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar voiced concern about an atmosphere of tension in the region following the US assassination of Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, calling for concerted action to preserve stability and calm.

News ID: 79915

Date: 16 January 2020 - 22:17

In a telephone conversation with Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri on Thursday, Akar offered his condolence to the Iranian government, nation and military foces over the loss of Lt. General Soleimani.

“Unfortunately, the assassination and martyrdom of General Soleimani triggered successive and delicate incidents in the region, which could be greatly worrying,” the Turkish defense minister added.

He also stressed the need for collective cooperation to maintain stability in the region and prevent terrorists from taking advantage of the situation.

For his part, the top Iranian commander denounced the American assassination of Lt. General Soleimani as an “inhumane, unfair and immoral” move that violated all legal and international regulations.

He said the assassination, in addition to the US attacks on the bases of Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Iraq or the military bases of Syria, have set off a new round of tensions in the region.

“While the Americans themselves had pushed the region to the brink of a broad skirmish by assassinating Gen. Soleimani and his companions, they were sending messages to prevent an escalation of tensions. But the Islamic Republic of Iran displayed its decisive will to protect its rights with a retaliatory operation against the American military base of Ain al-Assad, and proved that if the US acts of mischief continue, it will receive heavier responses,” Major General Baqeri added.

He emphasized that Iran does not favor growing tensions, but it would harshly respond to any irrational and aggressive action.

“We hope that disorder and conflicts would be eradicated with the retreat of the US from the region,” the senior commander added.

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