Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has severely criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdogan over the latter's recent remarks against the Islamic Republic.
"Those who have inflicted irreparable damage with their strategic mistakes and high ambitions would better adopt wise policies to use existing potentials in preserving regional peace and integrity," Zarif said,Fars news agency reported March 27.
Zarif said that Iran highly regards its strategic relations with Turkey in different spheres, adding that under the current circumstances all countries must work toward establishing peace and preventing insecurity in the region.
Turkey's president earlier accused Iran of trying to dominate the Middle East and its efforts have began to annoy Ankara, as well as Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab countries. Prior to that, Turkey said it supports the Saudi-led military operation against Houthi forces (a Shia group) in Yemen and called on the militia group and its "foreign supporters" to abandon acts which threaten peace and security in the region.
"Iran is trying to dominate the region," Erdogan, who is due to visit Tehran in early April, said at a press conference. "This is really not tolerable and Iran has to see this."
Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched air strikes on the Houthi (local Shia group) militia forces in Yemen Mar.25, in a move to oust President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. While Turkey and some Arab states have accused Iran of supporting the Houthis, Tehran has denied the allegations.