Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country wants a political solution to address Turkey’s security concerns in Syria, stressing that the return of refugees and support for peace, stability and security in the war-torn country are among the issues on the agenda of the upcoming meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey on Tuesday.
The meeting falls within the framework of “Astana peace process” to end more than 11 years of conflict in the Arab country.
Iran’s official news agency ISNA quoted the FM as saying on the eve of the tripartite meeting that talks will focus on reducing tensions and maintaining stability in Syria.
He revealed that during his recent trips to Ankara and Damascus, he conveyed a message from Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi stating that Tehran offers to tackle the current crisis in the security field between Turkey and Syria.
He pointed out that Ankara is hinting at the possibility of launching a military offensive up to 30 kilometers deep into Syrian territory.
On May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his army was preparing for an operation in northern Syria with the goal of expanding a 30-kilometer security zone, which extends south from the Turkish border.
“We tried to resolve this crisis and security concerns through the political track,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
He stressed that in light of these sensitive conditions, it is essential to try to resolve this issue politically instead of resorting to war and causing the displacement of a new wave of Syrians.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will arrive in Tehran on Tuesday evening, where he is scheduled to meet with his Iranian counterpart to discuss bilateral ties and the outcomes of Astana summit, Sputnik news agency reported.
