Iranian President Calls on Russia, Turkey to Exercise Restraint
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described Turkey’s recent move to shoot down a Russian fighter jet as a “provocative” act, but at the same called on Moscow and Ankara to show restraint and prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.
“Everyone should remember that such acts are provocative,” President Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, adding that the one who initiated the issue is legally responsible for its repercussions.
“We ask our neighboring and friend country, Turkey, to take serious care about the conditions because the situation is very sensitive,” he said.
“Both Russia and Turkey are the Islamic Republic of Iran’s neighbors and friends and it is very important to us that our neighbors have amicable relations,” Rouhani said.
The Iranian president added that tensions between the two countries are not in the interest of the region, calling on Moscow and Ankara to show restraint in this regard.
He went on to say that such incidents only serve the interests of terrorists in Syria and boost their obstinacy, especially when they see that gaps have been created between regional countries on these issues.
Turkish fighter jets shot down the Russian warplane near the Syrian border on Tuesday. Turkey claims the incident happened after repeated warnings over air space violations, but Moscow said it could prove the jet had not left Syrian air space.
It is the first time a NATO member’s armed forces have downed a Russian or Soviet military aircraft since the 1950s and Russian and Turkish assets fell on fears of an escalation between the former Cold War enemies.
A Kremlin spokesman said it was a “very serious incident”.
Footage from private Turkish broadcaster Haberturk TV showed the warplane going down in flames in a woodland area, a long plume of smoke trailing behind it. The plane went down in an area known by Turks as “Turkmen Mountain”, it said.
