a minute agoUS urges Turkey to persuade Iran to reduce tensions in Middle East
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)The United States is urging Turkey and other allies, who have reports with Iran, to persuade it to reduce tensions in the Middle East, the US ambassador to Turkey said. Ambassador Jeff Flare made these comments as the Middle East region is preparing for possible attacks by Iran and [...]
Ambassador Jeff Flaque made these comments as the Middle East region is preparing for possible attacks by Iran and its allies as a sign of retaliation for the murder of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' political chief of the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organisation by the US and the European Union dealt with a senior commander of Hezbollah, the Lebanese group declared a terrorist organisation by Washington.
Hayeh was killed on July 31st in Tehran, Iran, and for his murder Iran and Hamas blamed Israel, who has been fighting the Palestinian radical group in Gaza since 7 October last year.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for killing Hamas' political chief.
“We urge all of our allies who have reports with Iran to persuade it to reduce tensions and that includes Turkey”, Flare said during a debate in Istanbul.
We are doing everything we can to prevent the situation from escalating”, he said.
The US and Turkey have had tense reports in recent years because of the US alliance with the Syrian Kurds Turkey names terrorists, but also because of the purchase of Russian S-400 systems from Ankara, which prompted Washington to move Turkey away from the programme to purchase American F-35 aircraft.
However, Flare said US-Turkey reports are now best “”.
He pointed to the productive “rol that Turkey has played in what is considered the largest exchange of prisoners between the US and Turkey since the Cold War, which was accomplished through Ankara in early August.
“They were not involved in negotiations, but on the logistical side and played a key role”, Flare said.
In June, in an interview for Reuters, Flare had declared that Turkey stands firm with the West and its partnership with the US.
But during the debate in Istanbul, Flare said the situation in Gaza is “very difficult”, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rhetoric, against Israel, has made it more difficult for Ankara to play the mediator's role. He said the differences between Ankara and Washington regarding Gaza have been reduced since the US “actively” began calling for ceasefire, but acknowledged there are still differences. /rel
