Turkish envoy: Unilateral US sanctions neither legitimate nor useful

On July 15, 2016, a coup d’état was attempted in Turkey against state institutions, including the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which was doomed to failure.

The ambassador said in the near future, a delegation from the US is expected to visit Turkey and put forward the country’s demands regarding Ankara’s economic cooperation with Tehran, adding the Americans have conspicuously announced what approach they would adopt.

He noted, “We are aware that the US seeks to take measures in all economic sectors to create problems for Iran. However, remarks by US of¿cials are contradictory. For instance, one day, they said “we will decrease Iran’s oil exports to zero”, whereas, later they said there can be exceptions in this regard.

The Turkish ambassador said Turkey will learn about US intention and requests following the of¿cial meeting with the US delegation.

However, he stressed that, Turkey’s policy on the reinstatement of US embargoes against Iran is quite clear and announced at the highest levels: “We deem the unilateral sanctions [against the Islamic Republic] neither legitimate nor useful.”

Tekin added Turkey is not a country to formulate its policies based on other states’ expectations and demands, be it the US or any other nation.

Turkey stood by Iran during the years prior to the signing of the JCPOA when the country was under strict US sanctions, he said.

“Iran is an important country for US. We have always had expanded economic relations with each other. Beyond that, Turkey has increased cooperation with Iran in political and security ¿elds as well as common interests. We still do not know what the US wants from us.”

He said not only Turkey, but all other countries are seeking ways to minimize the impacts of US sanctions on Iran.

Turkey’s economy is based on free market and integrated with the global economic system, the ambassador said, adding everybody is aware of US sovereignty over and power in international ¿nancial system, particularly global banking sector.

“Thus, it is not easy to simply pretend that nothing has happened.”

Nevertheless, following Trump’s coming to power as US president, Washington’s unilateral moves and measures have been met with global reactions, he said, adding everybody is exploring ways to take the necessary measure in the face of US unilateralism.

The Turkish envoy stressed that his country, which has expanded relations with Iran, continues its cooperation with Tehran in a way to minimize the impacts of the sanctions.

Efforts to isolate Iran are not useful, he said, stressing that, “We have told this to US of¿cials as well as others.”

Commenting on the trilateral summit between the heads of state of Turkey, Iran and Russia, he noted that the previous summit was held in Istanbul in April 2018 and the next one will be held in Tehran, probably, after the summer.

“The trend of developments in Syria impact the date for holding the next summit.”

Commenting on the status quo in Syria, Tekin said the Idlib region is the only district in the country in which the accords reached during several rounds of peace talks in Astana on creating de-escalation zones are being implemented.

He added in case the Syrian government intends to conduct military operation in this region, it will face severe consequences.

The Turkish ambassador said turkey has informed its two other partners, Iran and Russia, that in case the Idlib region is to face the same fate that has befallen other Syrian areas, the Astana peace accords will be endangered.

In a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, Erdogan stressed the same issue, Tekin added.

There is no military solution to resolving the Syrian crisis, he said, adding, “We entered Astana peace talks with the same mindset and understanding.”

The Turkish envoy stressed that Ankara has no intention of prolonging its presence in Syria. “We only seek to stop the bloodshed and conàicts in the country.

Commenting on the activities of Muhammed Fethullah Gulen’s, Us-based Turkish opposition ¿gure, terrorist organization in Turkey, he said, “We have no doubt that Gulen was behind the 2016 coup attempt.”

In that year, this terrorist organization attempted to, against the will of the people of Turkey, topple the Turkish government and come to power, Tekin noted, adding 251 individuals were martyred and 2,200 people were injured in this coup attempt.

The investigations and interrogations conducted in the past two years, showed that those who staged the coup were in contact with Gulen, he said.

Tekin praised Iran for its supportive stance towards the Ankara government in the early hours of the attempted coup that rocked Turkey in July 2016, saying the Islamic Republic has never allowed the Gulen organization to have any activity in Iran.

On trade between Tehran and Ankara, he noted that Turkey was the ¿rst country to sign an agreement with Iran on using national currencies in economic transactions.

Of course, Iran has held negotiations on this issue with Russia and China, the ambassador said.

He added this move will help shield Iran and Turkey against the Àuctuations in the rates of major foreign currencies such as the dollar and euro and the harms of US sanctions.

The balance in trade exchanges between Turkey and Iran is highly in Tehran’s interest, Tekin said, adding in 2017, Turkey exported $3.2 billion worth of goods to Iran.

“This came as the value of Iran’s exports to Turkey stood at $7.5 billion.”