Turkey, Iran vow to strengthen ties amid Syria tensions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and Iran both expressed a commitment to furthering their bilateral ties on Friday, Oct 5, during high-level talks as tensions escalate along the Turkish-Syrian border, Today’s Zaman reported.

“We want Turkish-Iranian relations to progress so as to contribute to the peace and wellbeing of the peoples of the two countries and the region,” President Abdullah Gül told visiting Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi during a meeting, according to a statement issued by Gül's office.

Rahimi, who also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday, said the Iranian administration is committed to deepening relations with Turkey in all areas.

Rahimi's visit came amid fears that the Syrian crisis could spill over into the region after Turkey hit targets in Syria in retaliation for the deaths of five civilians in a border town caused by mortar shells fired from Syria on Wednesday.

On Friday, Iranian Chief of Staff Hassan Firouzabadi warned against a war between Turkey and Syria, saying the U.S. and other Western countries will be the only ones to benefit from it.

Firouzabadi said both Turkey and Syria would face bigger problems if they enter into a war and that the Muslim world's interests would also be harmed.