Istanbul [Turkey], January 16: Turkiye opposes military intervention against neighbouring Iran and believes Tehran must resolve its internal problems independently, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
"We are against military intervention in Iran. Iran needs to resolve its own internal, authentic problems itself," Fidan told reporters in Istanbul.
His remarks followed talks earlier this week with his Iranian counterpart and the US envoy in Ankara, according to state broadcaster TRT.
Fidan attributed Iran's challenges to international sanctions, urging Tehran to resolve regional disputes and seize diplomatic opportunities regarding the nuclear issue. He cautioned that protests over Iran's economic difficulties can sometimes be misinterpreted as a revolt against the regime. Regarding the US stance, Fidan noted that US President Donald Trump has so far shown little appetite for deploying ground forces.
Fears are high in Iran of an attack by the US or Israel as the wave of nationwide protests appears to have been largely quelled for the time being.
Activists and analysts have reported far fewer street protests in the last few days, although a week-long internet shutdown has made getting reliable information out of the country difficult.
In recent days, the extent of state violence against the protests has gradually become clearer, and human rights groups in exile have reported serious attacks by state forces in numerous cities.
The Oslo-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) put the number of demonstrators killed at 3,428, although the actual figure is likely to be significantly higher. These figures cannot be independently verified at present.
According to activists, a particularly serious incident took place in the northern Iranian city of Rasht, not far from the Caspian Sea.
According to an eyewitness, demonstrators there surrendered to the security forces in the area of the bazaar with their hands up - and are said to have been shot anyway. This information could not initially be verified either.
Source: Qatar Tribune
