Iran Summons Türkiye's Ambassador Following Ankara’s Warning Regarding Syria 

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addresses a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Ankara on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addresses a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Ankara on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
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Iran Summons Türkiye's Ambassador Following Ankara’s Warning Regarding Syria 

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addresses a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Ankara on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addresses a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Ankara on February 24, 2025. (AFP)

Iran's foreign ministry summoned Türkiye's ambassador, state TV reported on Tuesday, after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Tehran against undermining Syria's stability.

The Iranian foreign ministry published a statement saying that a meeting took place on Monday between ambassador Hicabi Kırlangıç and Mahmoud Heydari, the Iran foreign ministry's Director General for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.

"The common interests of the two countries and the sensitivity of regional conditions require avoiding wrongful comments and unreal analyses that could lead to differences and tensions in our bilateral relations," Heydari said.

Fidan last week gave an interview to Qatar's Al Jazeera in which he said Iran's foreign policy relying on militias was "dangerous" and needed to change.

"If you are trying to cause anxiety in a third country, other countries can also disturb you by supporting groups in your own country," Türkiye's foreign minister added.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said earlier on Monday that Tehran and Ankara disagreed over some issues.

"We highly value our bilateral relations with Türkiye. Unfortunately, the words repeatedly heard (from Türkiye) were highly unconstructive, and it was necessary for Iran to decisively and clearly state its position in that regard," Esmaeil Baghaei said.

"Perhaps it is necessary for our Turkish friends to think more about the Zionist regime's (Israel) policy in Syria and the region."



Explosive Device Likely Damaged Greek Tanker off Libya Last Week, Operator Says

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar (File Photo)
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar (File Photo)
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Explosive Device Likely Damaged Greek Tanker off Libya Last Week, Operator Says

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar (File Photo)
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar (File Photo)

An external explosive device most likely caused the blast that damaged Greek oil tanker Vilamoura as it was sailing off the Libyan coast last week, the vessel's Greece-based operator TMS Tankers said on Sunday, citing an initial investigation.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar with some 1 million barrels of oil when there was an explosion in the engine room, Reuters reported.

"Preliminary investigation findings clearly indicate that the explosion, the resulting fracture of the side shell plating, and the flooding of the engine room were caused by an external source —an unidentified explosive device," TMS Tankers said.

Maritime security sources told Reuters last week that a limpet mine may have caused the blast on Vilamoura, the fifth such incident to hit commercial shipping in the region in recent months.

Following the explosion and the flooding of its engine room the vessel lost manoeuvrability, although it was able to be towed towards Greece.

The vessel has now arrived safely at Laconikos Bay in Greece and its crew are in good health, the operator added in a statement.