Iran says it is ready to mediate between Turkey and Syria

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the country is ready to help Turkey and Syria in resolving their conflict - the war has been going on for almost nine years in Syria, adding that Tehran fully supports the sovereignty of its main ally in the region - Damascus.

The parties to the conflict in Syria are divided into two camps: Turkey, which supports the rebels, who in turn want to overthrow the current regime, represented by President Bashar al-Assad and Iran with Russia, who have supported the current government for 9 years.

Iranian officials at a meeting with UN representatives stressed the importance of resolving Syrian problems through diplomacy. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, made it clear that his country was prepared to act as a mediator between Turkey and Syria.

Since early December, Syrian forces, together with support from Russia, have been trying to capture the province of Idlib, which is the last stronghold of rebels in the country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered an ultimatum to Syria, saying that if the Syrian troops in Idlib are not withdrawn by the end of the month, his military will bring down Syrian aircraft. This tension between the two countries flared up again after the events on Monday when eight Turkish soldiers were killed as a result of shelling by the Syrian side near the city of Sarageb.

Prepared by: Alexander Boltrukevich alexbolt@tempting.pro