Iran calls on Turkey, Syria to curb tension by showing restraint

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has called on Syria and Turkey to exercise restraint with regard to their existing disputes to prevent tension from spreading across the Middle East.

At a Thursday press conference in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Mehmanparast insisted that the root cause of the rising tension between Ankara and Damascus should be identified, adding, “The two countries should prevent confrontation in the region by applying restraint.”

“We carefully follow up the tension between Syria and Turkey and have called on the two countries’ officials to immediately resolve the tension,” he added.

Mehmanparast noted that dispute and confrontation run counter to the interests of the regional countries and reaffirmed Iran’s determination to help restore stability and security across the Middle East.

Tension between Turkey and Syria soared on October 3 after a mortar shell fired from Syria landed in Turkey’s border town of Akcakale, leaving five people dead.

Ankara promptly responded with retaliatory fire that continued through the next days, and Turkish lawmakers also authorized the government to use military force against Syria when it deemed necessary.