Rouhani Talks to Assad About Restoring Stability and PeaceIran is already reaping diplomatic dividends from Sundays interim nuclear deal, with avisit to Tehran by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogluleading to proclamations of a common approach to the Middle East.
Ties between Tehran and Ankara have strained by the ongoing tensions over Irans nuclear program and their differing alliances in the Syrian conflict, with the Islamic Republic backing the Assad regime and the Turks supporting the opposition and insurgency.
However, on Wednesday, Davutoglu and Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif united in calls for a halt to the fighting and a conference to resolve the civil war.
All efforts must be directed at ending the conflict and [establishing] a ceasefire in Syria even before the Geneva II conference, Zarif said.
Davutoglu declared, We should not wait until these two months (and let) the Syrian people suffer a worse situation. Even before Geneva II, the ground should be prepared for reaching a ceasefire which will lead to success at Geneva II.
The reconciliation has been furthered by the easing of sanctions in Sundays nuclear agreement. Provisions allow Turkey, one of Irans largest trading partners, to resume payment for oil and natural gas with the transfer of gold.
Speaking on Tuesday at the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Tehran,Davutoglu linkedthe political reconciliation with the resumption of trade, especially in the energy sector:
In my point of view, when Turkey and Iran join hands, this will not only benefit both countries, but also become the backbone of regional stability.
Turkeys annual energy demand is $60 billion. Turkey is a corridor country, Iran is a producer country. If we fuse both potentials, Turkey could become the corridor of energy provider Iran.
At a place and time where some try to instigate sectarian conflicts, the dialogue between Iran and Turkey is the most important dialogue in the region.
Rouhani Talks to Assad About Restoring Stability and Peace
As Iran presses for its involvement in any international conference on the Syrian conflict, President Rouhanihas spoken by phone with Bashar al-Assad.
According to Iranian State media, Rouhani declared, There is no military solution to the crisis in Syria, and restoring stability and peace in the friendly country of Syria is one of the objectives pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Rouhani praised Assads cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to hand over and destroy its chemical weapons following the Syrian regimes attacks of August 21 near Damascus.
The Iranian President reportedly denounced terrorist activities carried out by foreign-sponsored militants and Takfiri extremists in Syria as a threat not only to Syrians but also the whole region, while expressing concern over humanitarian conditions.
Rouhani said, We will exhaust all our potentials to provide political and international assistance and humanitarian aid for the people of Syria.
By Ea World View
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