Iranian FM says S. Arabia, Qatar favored coup in Turkey

“Our foreign minister told a closed session of the parliament today that certain states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar didn’t dislike the strengthening of the coup in Turkey, an issue which requires further contemplation,” member of the parliament’s Presiding Board Akbar Ranjbarzadeh quoted Zarif as saying on Sunday.

Meantime, another MP Gholamreza Jafarzadeh quoted Zarif as saying, “Given the Saudis’ stance on issues in Turkey, we conclude that Saudi Arabia has likely been involved in this coup.”

“Mr. Zarif said that in principle, we condemn any coup in any parts of the world and believe that people should play the role in democracy,” both MPs told FNA.

According to Ranjbarzadeh, Zarif blasted certain states for not taking a clear position on the coup in Turkey and even keeping mum on the crisis.

Also another member of the parliament’s Presiding Board Behrouz Nemati explained to reporters on Sunday that Zarif also elaborated on the recent terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed at least 90 people and injured 120 others.

“Another issue raised by Mr. Zarif was the terrorist incident in France and the foreign ministry’s assessment is that the two recent terrorist incidents in France aren’t so much related to religion and their perpetrators are the second and third generations of immigrants from other countries who live in France and somehow want to take social revenge,” Nemati quoted Zarif as saying.

According to Nemati, Zarif underlined that the Iranian foreign ministry condemns any terrorist attack both by extremist or non-sectarian groups.

An attempted Turkish military coup appeared to crumble on Saturday after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets to support him and dozens of rebel soldiers abandoned their tanks in the main city of Istanbul.

After the coup, Zarif twitted his “deep concerns” over the status quo in neighboring Turkey. In a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday morning, Zarif discussed the latest developments in Turkey after the failed coup d’etat.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi reiterated the country’s severe concerns over Turkey’s security and stability after the coup, and said Tehran supports the elected Turkish government.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues the developments in its neighboring country highly precisely and sensitively,” Qassemi said on Saturday.

Referring to Zarif’s three phone calls with his Turkish counterpart since the start of the crisis from last midnight to Saturday noon, he said, “We are deeply concerned about stability, security, unity, democracy and the rule of the law in Turkey.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the publically-elected government and advises (all sides) not to resort to violence,” Qassemi said.

Stressing that Iran prioritizes stability, security and democracy in Turkey, he expressed the hope that full stability and tranquility would return to the country as soon as possible.

Also Iranian Intelligence Minister Seyed Mahmoud Alavi underlined that his country is closely monitoring the political and military developments in neighboring Turkey.

“Iranian police, security and intelligence forces are on alert, and Iran’s common borders with Turkey are fully controlled,” Alavi said.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani said that Tehran supports President Erdogan’s government because it has been elected by the people, adding that Iran’s support for the Syrian government derives from the same fact.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s position on such phenomena and events has always been respect for people’s choice compared with forceful control, meaning that rejecting coups and supporting the governments elected based on people’s real vote is always our principled and fixed policy on the governmental structures,” Shamkhani said on Saturday.

Turkey is no exception in this regard, he said, and stressed that Iran prefers a government elected through people’s vote to a failed, flawed and unpopular government that has ascended to power through a coup.

“This, of course, is not just limited to Turkey and it is the reason for our presence in Syria too,” Shamkhani underscored.

Asked about the situation at the shared Iranian borders with Turkey, he said the country’s Northwestern bordering areas, neighboring Turkey, enjoy sufficient levels of security and the Ground and Air forces are ready to defend the country, if necessary.

By Fars News Agency

Source Article from http://theiranproject.com/blog/2016/07/17/iranian-fm-says-s-arabia-qatar-favored-coup-turkey/

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