Iran ready to offer a political solution to ease Syria-Turkey tension, foreign minister says

BEIRUT, July 2 (Reuters) – Iran is working towards a political solution to keep Turkey from invading northern Syria, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Saturday during a visit to Damascus.

“We announced our readiness to offer a political solution and our readiness to help in this regard,” he told a news conference with his Syrian counterpart.

“We will expend all our efforts to prevent a military operation from taking place,” he said, adding he had also spoken to Turkish officials about a diplomatic solution.

Syria’s foreign minister Faisal Al-Moqdad said Damascus welcomed Iran’s efforts.

Ankara has vowed a new offensive on swathes of northern Syria to oust Kurdish-led fighters who are backed by the United States but have also coordinated with Damascus and its ally Russia.

Turkey has conducted three incursions into northern Syria since 2016 which Damascus has described as violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Syria’s foreign ministry has warned Turkey against invading again, saying it would consider the operation a war crime.

Iran has been a steadfast ally of Syria’s throughout the latter’s 11-year conflict, offering military, political and economic support.

Reporting by Firas Makdesi; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Mike Harrison

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