Iran hints at the dangers of the US withdrawal from northern Syria
Iran has announced its opposition to any Turkish military operation inside Syrian territories, after hours of a telephone call between the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey, in which the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reiterated his country’s rejection of the planned Turkish assault.
The statement of the Iranian Foreign Ministry was more assertive in rejection than the summary of the telephone conversation that was published by the Iranian News Agency, in which Iran has showed a first-of-its-kind understanding of the U.S. presence, considering that the withdrawal should have taken place before this time, which indicates that Tehran considers the withdrawal now as problematic.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stressed that if such a Turkish move was carried out; it would not remove Turkey’s security concerns, but would also cause extensive material damage and human casualties. Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any possible military operations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran considered the presence of U.S. military personnel in Syria as an illegal, and the U.S. decision to end its presence inside Syrian territories, and the withdrawal of its military forces from Syria as a step that should have taken place much earlier.
The statement added that the Iranian Foreign Ministry, expressing the hope that peace and stability will be established in Syria and in the region following the latest U.S. move; as it follows closely the disturbing reports that Turkish forces may enter the Syrian territories, the ministry believes that if such a measure is carried out, it will not remove Turkey’s security concerns.
The statement added that the Islamic Republic of Iran declares its readiness to establish immediate contacts with Turkish and Syrian officials in order to remove the existing concerns through peaceful means, and it affirms that respecting the national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Syria in addition Adana agreement constitutes an appropriate basis for such talks.