Syria crisis should be resolved without foreign intervention: Iran tells Turkey

The internal conflict in Syria should be settled without any foreign interference, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in a meeting in New York late Thursday.

During his remarks, Salehi said given the critical situation in the region, any instability in Syria could lead to problems for the regional countries as well.

Iran has criticized Turkey’s approach toward developments in Syria.

Salehi also discussed decision by Turkey to deploy NATO’s missile defense system on its territory.

Turkey has agreed to host an early warning radar as part of NATO’s missile defense system, which is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile threat from Iran. The Islamic Republic has expressed disapproval of the decision.

Turkey has tried to allay Iran’s concerns about the radar system. In an interview with CNN on September 25, Erdogan said, “We don’t think Iran should get offended when there is no reason… If Iran is interpreting it in a different way, it is their decision.”