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Iran’s Baghdad Ambassador Irec Mescidi commented on Turkey’s Garê operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and said all of Turkey’s operations, including Garê, violated the sovereignty of Iraq, in an interview made with Rudaw.
Turkey summoned Iran’s Ankara ambassador Muhammed Ferazmend to the Turkish Foreign Ministry over those statements and Ferazmend said that Turkey strongly rejected those claims.
Tehran’s response
Turkey’s Baghdad ambassador Fatih Yıldız also responded to Mescidi’s statements on social media, saying, “I think Iran’s ambassador should be the last person to warn Turkey about respecting the borders of Iraq”.
IRNA, Iran’s State Media, then announced that Turkey’s Tehran ambassador Derya Örs was summoned to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
According to IRNA, the reason for this was Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu’s remark on 20 February that “There are 525 terrorists in Iran”.
Iranian officials said Soylu’s words were unacceptable and contrary to collaboration efforts between the two countries, adding also that Yıldız’s comments were unfair and unacceptable.
Iran: Withdraw your soldiers from Iraq
İrec Mescidi had previously called for Turkey to withdraw its soldiers from Iraq and respect international borders. Regarding Turkey’s plans for Sinjar, Mescidi said, “Turkey has nothing to do with Sinjar and for that reason it has no right to threated or decide”.
In addition, Mescidi said, “We reject an operation against Iraq. Turkish forces should not become a threat or violate Iraq’s sovereignity. Whether it’s Turkey or another country, we certainly do not accept any kind of military operation against Iraq”.
