Iran’s President, FM Condole with Turkey over Quake Casualties


Iran’s President, FM Condole with Turkey over Quake Casualties

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif offered condolences and sympathy to the Turkish government and people over the deaths in an earthquake that rocked eastern Turkey on Friday.

In a Saturday message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Iranian president expressed sympathy with the neighboring country over the deaths and injuries in the quake that struck Turkey’s eastern province of Elazig.

He also voiced Iran’s readiness to provide whatever assistance necessary for the people in the quake-hit areas of Turkey, and expressed hope that, by God’s grace, the aftermath of the natural disaster would be eliminated immediately and calm would return to the quake-stricken regions.

Zarif also held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday to express sympathy with the Turkish nation and government.

Zarif offered condolences to the survivors of the incident’s victims, and expressed Tehran's preparedness to dispatch aid to the quake-hit people.

The Turkish foreign minister, in turn, appreciated the Iranian nation and government's expression of sympathy.

At least 29 people have been killed and more than 1,400 injured in the magnitude-6.8 quake.

Forty-three people have been rescued so far, with more than 20 feared to remain trapped, officials say.

Earthquakes are common in Turkey - about 17,000 people died in a quake in the western city of Izmit in 1999.

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