Iran asks Turkish envoy to explain Erdoğan comments

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

Boys stand on a tank burnt during clashes on a street in Yemen's southern port city of Aden March 29, 2015. REUTERS Photo

Iran has asked Turkey's top diplomat in Tehran to explain remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan heavily critical of Iran's role in Yemen and the region.
      
In the absence of its ambassador, Turkey's charge d'affaires has been "invited" to respond to "the Islamic republic's objection and regret over Erdoğan's inappropriate and unusual comments," foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in a statement.
      
"We demand a clear and convincing response," Afkham added amid calls for Erdoğan's planned visit to Tehran next month to be cancelled.
      
Turkey has expressed support for a Saudi-led coalition that is conducting air strikes against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.
      
The coalition has vowed to keep up the raids until the rebels abandon their insurrection against President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has fled to Riyadh.
      
Hadi and his backers charge that the rebels, who overran the capital last year and have since advanced across much of the country, have support from Iran.
      
On Thursday, Erdoğan demanded that "Iran and the terrorist groups must withdraw" from Yemen.
      
He also accused Iran of meddling in other regional countries, citing its role advising and coordinating Shiite militia groups in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadists in Iraq.
      
"The aim of Iran is to increase its influence in Iraq," said Erdoğan.
      
"Iran is trying to chase Daesh from the region only to take its place," he added, using an Arabic acronym for ISıL.
     
The comments have been condemned by Iranian politicians and newspaper editors who demanded that the foreign ministry withdraw the invitation for Erdogan to visit.
      
"Erdoğan's trip to Iran is an insult to our people and a betrayal of the resistance," Hussein Shariatmadari, the editor of the leading conservative newspaper, Kayhan, said on March 29.
      
"An immediate cancellation is the least expected from the ministry of foreign affairs."       

Esmail Kosari, a member of parliament's national security and foreign affairs committee, warned: "If the foreign ministry does not cancel the president's trip, parliament will next week take up this issue."        But the ministry spokeswoman sounded a more measured response.
      
"Iran's approach to the region and relations with neighbours is based on peace, stability and cooperation based on mutual respect," she said.
      
"We believe that Iran-Turkey cooperation can meet this goal."