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Iran warns Turkey against deployment of Patriot missiles
November 25, 2012 - 16:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran said Turkey's plans to deploy Patriot defensive
missiles near its border with Syria would add to the region's
problems, as fears grow of the Syrian civil war spilling across
frontiers, Reuters reported.
Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept
aircraft or missiles, last week after talks about how to shore up
security on its 900-km (560-mile) border.
"The installation of such systems in the region has negative effects
and will intensify problems in the region," Iranian parliament speaker
Ali Larijani said on returning from a trip to Syria, Lebanon and
Turkey on Saturday evening, according to Iranian state news agency
IRNA.
Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, told the
Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) on Sunday that deploying the
Patriot system "will not only not help solve the situation in Syria,
it will actually make the situation more difficult and complicated as
well".
Syria has called Turkey's request for the Patriot missiles
"provocative", and Russia said the move could increase risks in the
conflict.
Iran has steadfastly supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
throughout the 20-month-old uprising against his rule.
Turkey's missile request may have riled Damascus because it could be
seen as a first step toward implementing a no-fly zone over Syrian
airspace.
Syrian rebels have been requesting a no-fly zone to help them hold
territory against a government with overwhelming firepower from the
air, but most foreign governments are reluctant to get sucked into the
conflict.
Turkey fears security on its border may crumble as the Syrian army
fights harder against the rebels, some of whom have enjoyed sanctuary
in Turkey.
November 25, 2012 - 16:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran said Turkey's plans to deploy Patriot defensive
missiles near its border with Syria would add to the region's
problems, as fears grow of the Syrian civil war spilling across
frontiers, Reuters reported.
Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept
aircraft or missiles, last week after talks about how to shore up
security on its 900-km (560-mile) border.
"The installation of such systems in the region has negative effects
and will intensify problems in the region," Iranian parliament speaker
Ali Larijani said on returning from a trip to Syria, Lebanon and
Turkey on Saturday evening, according to Iranian state news agency
IRNA.
Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, told the
Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) on Sunday that deploying the
Patriot system "will not only not help solve the situation in Syria,
it will actually make the situation more difficult and complicated as
well".
Syria has called Turkey's request for the Patriot missiles
"provocative", and Russia said the move could increase risks in the
conflict.
Iran has steadfastly supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
throughout the 20-month-old uprising against his rule.
Turkey's missile request may have riled Damascus because it could be
seen as a first step toward implementing a no-fly zone over Syrian
airspace.
Syrian rebels have been requesting a no-fly zone to help them hold
territory against a government with overwhelming firepower from the
air, but most foreign governments are reluctant to get sucked into the
conflict.
Turkey fears security on its border may crumble as the Syrian army
fights harder against the rebels, some of whom have enjoyed sanctuary
in Turkey.