Iran urges Mideast states to help restore calm to region

Iran has urged regional countries to act responsibly to help restore calm to the Middle East, urging the states which have adopted wrong policies to abandon their erroneous strategies.

“Those which have caused irreparable damage with their strategic mistakes and ambitious policies had better adopt responsible policies and tap into the existing potential to ensure tranquility and convergence in the region,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

As for relations with Turkey, the top diplomat underlined that Tehran attaches great significance to its “strategic relations” with Ankara in all areas, saying, “At this juncture, all countries should make efforts to establish stability and contain the spread of insecurity in the region.”

Touching on the situation in conflict-torn Yemen, Zarif reiterated Tehran’s preparedness to work in tandem with other states in the region to help restore security to the country.

“Iran is ready to work with all its brothers in the region to facilitate a dialog among different Yemeni groups in order to maintain its integrity and help restore stability and security to the country.”

Zarif’s remarks came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Iran on Thursday of “trying to dominate the region” and said Tehran’s efforts had begun annoying Ankara, as well as Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf Arab countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkey is a member of the Saudi-led coalition of countries that have launched an act of aggression against Yemen.

Riyadh’s military campaign against Yemen has left dozens of people killed or wounded so far.

In the latest spate of attacks, warplanes of the Saudi-led alliance struck a popular market in the northwestern Yemeni city of Sa’ada, killing or injuring at least 15 people, according to Yemen’s al-Massira TV.