Turkish, Iranian presidents exchange views over Syria, anti-ISIL fight

ANKARA

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan informed his Iranian counterpart Hasan Rouhani about Turkey’s ongoing fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria. 

Erdoğan and Rouhani held a phone conversation Aug. 5 and discussed recent developments in Syria. Turkish president briefed Rouhani on Turkey’s fight against ISIL in Syria and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the private broadcaster CNNTürk reported. 

Erdoğan also underlined that stability will never prevail in Syria as long as President Bashar al-Assad remains in power, it added. 

For his part, Rouhani emphasized the importance of boosting bilateral relations with Turkey although there are disagreements on several issues. Turkey and Iran are completely on different pages over Syria as the former leader advocates for the ousting of Assad from power. 

In the meantime, Iranian foreign minister Javad Zareef will pay a visit to Ankara next week, Turkish officials said.