Iran, Russia and Syria have expressed their opposition to the deployment of NATO’s anti-ballistic missile system in Turkey.
The Mehr News Agency reports that Ramin Mehmanparast, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, commented on Turkey’s recent request to install NATO’s Patriot air defence system on its border with Syria, saying it only makes the situation “more difficult and complicated.”
“In view of doubts about the true intentions of western countries regarding the developments in the region, and since security of the Zionist regime remains their firm priority,” Mehmanparast said, “we urge the countries in the region to remain attentive and alert to the objectives and conspiracies of Western allies of the Zionist regime.”
AFP also reported that Iran’s Speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani, said during his visit with Beshar Assad in Damascus: “Syria’s internal crisis will not be resolved with the deployment of such weapons.”
On Thursday, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed that Turkey had made a request for deployment of the missiles, stressing that they were “purely defensive.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also acknowledged last week that all the preparations were finalized and Turkey could request the Patriot missiles at any time.
Both Russia and Syrian have opposed the deployment of a NATO air defence system in Turkey, saying such a move will exacerbate tensions.
Ria Novosti reported on Thursday that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told a news conference in Moscow: “The militarization of the Syrian-Turkish border is an alarming signal.”
He added: “We have a different recommendation for our Turkish colleagues: They should use their influence on the Syrian opposition to promote dialogue between Damascus and the Syrian opposition.”
