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Türkiye, Iran Support Syria's Territorial Integrity, Unity

Türkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for pictures with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Ankara, Türkiye, January 17, 2023. (Handout via Reuters)
Türkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for pictures with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Ankara, Türkiye, January 17, 2023. (Handout via Reuters)
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Türkiye, Iran Support Syria's Territorial Integrity, Unity

Türkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for pictures with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Ankara, Türkiye, January 17, 2023. (Handout via Reuters)
Türkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for pictures with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Ankara, Türkiye, January 17, 2023. (Handout via Reuters)

Türkiye and Iran have reiterated their support for a political solution in Syria and preserving its unity and territorial integrity. They also stressed the need to solve the many problems of the Syrian crisis within the framework of the Astana track.

“Türkiye and Iran support Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Ankara on Tuesday.

“Within the framework of the Astana process, of which Türkiye, Russia and Iran are the guarantor countries, we believe work must be done to solve many problems,” added the top Turkish diplomat.

Cavusoglu stressed that cooperation and coordination with Iran “is ongoing within the framework of the Astana process, and that Ankara has a common desire to activate the political track, the work of the Constitutional Committee, and other steps in Syria to establish stability.”

The minister added that the process of normalization between the intelligence institutions in Türkiye and Syria “has begun.”

He stressed that Türkiye “will not allow the establishment of a terrorist state on its southern borders.”

Cavusoglu added that he also discussed with Abdollahian the fight against terrorism.

The Turkish minister said that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is present in both Syria and Iran, noting that his country has taken “necessary measures” at home and outside the country to fight the group.

He pointed out that the US and Russia “did not fulfill their commitments under a 2019 agreement to remove the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) away from the Turkish borders.”

Türkiye often targets Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria, claiming that they are affiliated to the PKK.

Türkiye has conducted three offensives against the YPG since 2016, and it is threatening to carry out a fresh military campaign against them soon.

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Arab World

Egypt Concerned Over Developments in Iran

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
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Egypt Concerned Over Developments in Iran

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 

Egypt on Sunday expressed its “deep concern” over the latest developments in Iran following the US attacks on the country’s nuclear sites. It condemned the growing escalation, warning of its serious consequences on regional and international peace and security.

Although the foreign ministry’s statement did not directly refer to the US, an Egyptian diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We do not need to explain what is well-known. The Foreign Ministry statement condemned escalation following the US bombing. Everyone knows that Egypt meant the actions of Washington and not others.”
In the statement, Egypt reaffirmed its rejection of any violations of the UN Charter and international law, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty of states.
It also warned anew against the dangers should the region slide into further chaos and tension.
The statement emphasized that political solutions and diplomatic negotiations, not military action, are the only path to resolving the crisis and achieving a lasting settlement.
Egypt then renewed its call for de-escalation, self-restraint and dialogue, in order to protect civilian lives and preserve the security and stability of the region.

The statement came after the United States attacked early on Sunday Iran's three nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. According to observers, the current escalation between Washington and Tehran is among the most dangerous in years.

Dr. Amr Al-Shobaki, an expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Egypt has a strong strategic alliance with the US.

However, tension lately arose after US President Donald Trump insisted that Egypt should accept displaced Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

In its FM statement condemning the attack on Iran, “Egypt did not want to clearly refer to the US,” Al-Shobaki told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Egypt’s statement spoke in general when it warned of the serious consequences on regional and international peace and security.

“Cairo expressed its concern about the strike, but did not directly mention the US. It wanted to prevent an open confrontation and further tension in relations between both countries,” Al-Shobaki added.

On Saturday night, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi expressed Egypt's complete rejection of the ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran, unlike the FM statement released following the US strikes and which did not mention Washington.

Meanwhile, Egypt continues to exert efforts to deescalate tensions in the region.

In this regard, Sisi on Sunday spoke by phone with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. Sisi emphasized the need to halt the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran, warning of the grave consequences of the expanding conflict in the region.

Sisi also praised the role played by the Sultanate in mediating between Iran and the United States, stressing the need to restore and strengthen the negotiating process to spare the region the scourge of war.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made two separate phone calls with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the need to avoid further chaos and tension in the region.

The ministers emphasized the importance of halting military escalation and achieving a ceasefire, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

“They called for prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions as the only viable path out of the current crisis,” it added.

They also underscored the need to respect the sovereignty of states, uphold international law and adhere to the United Nations Charter.