The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, continued his regional tour on monday, in Ankara, by meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, following a visit to Damascus.
In a joint press conference, Aragchi emphasized the agreement between Tehran and Ankara on a key principle: "The unity and sovereignty of Syrian territories must be preserved." He stressed that Syria should not become a safe haven for "terrorist groups", a stance shared by Turkey, despite their differences on other aspects of the Syrian conflict.
The Iranian minister also accused certain "terrorist organizations" operating in Syria of coordinating their actions with Israel and the United States, a claim rejected by his Turkish counterpart.
Regarding the Astana process, Aragchi reiterated that Iran and Turkey’s positions remain aligned. He described his discussions with the Turkish side as "very positive," highlighting the need for ongoing regional consultations to address the Syrian crisis.
The Iranian diplomat also reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for the Syrian government and its army, characterizing this assistance as "complete and steadfast."
Turkey Positions Itself as a Mediator
For his part, Fidan stated that Turkey is ready to play a mediating role between the Syrian government and armed factions, stressing that recent developments in Syria make such efforts essential. Ankara, while reaffirming its commitment to preserving Syria's territorial integrity, expressed its support for a political solution involving dialogue between all parties.
Fidan also highlighted the Turkish-Iranian alignment on the "elimination of terrorist groups" in Syria, a shared strategic goal for both countries.
The Iranian minister warned that the severity of the situation in Syria could have repercussions across the entire region. He underscored the need for neighboring countries to work together to prevent further escalation of tensions.
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