Iranian Official Blames Turkey’s Interference for Protracted War in Syria

“Unfortunately, Turkey’s interference in the internal affairs of Syria and its measures to determine the fate of the nation have resulted in the protracted war, displacement of people and heavy casualties,” the Iranian official said on Tuesday.

“If Turkey had not put obstacles (in the peace process in Syria) by its ambitious desires and emotional disputes, the Syrian issue would have been resolved by now,” he added.

Iran believes that the Syrian crisis could have been resolved three years ago, he noted.

The Iranian official emphasized that Tehran attaches significance to good relations with Ankara and expressed the hope that the Turkish officials refrain from repeating anti-Iran allegations to maintain growing ties between the two countries.

The comments apparently come in reaction to recent allegations by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Earlier on Saturday, Erdogan said Iran and Turkey could not work together on the Syrian issue despite the promises made in bilateral meetings. He also questioned Tehran’s “sincerity,” daily Hürriyet reported.

“When we have bilateral meetings with Iran, they agree on ‘solving this issue together. When it comes to taking action on this issue, unfortunately, they have their own way of working and they work in that way.

his is very saddening. This is why we cannot find comfortable ground to work with Iran,” Erdogan said.

“Recently, Iran’s activity in the region is in a very different position. Actions continue in Iraq and Syria, but unfortunately these (actions) are not being done with a sincere approach. (We call on Iran), ‘Let’s solve this issue together as Turkey and Iran.’ I said this when I was prime minister and I say this as president. Unfortunately, Iran has not held such an approach,” Erdogan added.