Iranian Cleric Calls for Self-Restraint in Russia-Turkey Tension

Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian Su-24 near the Syrian border on Tuesday, creating tension in relations between the two countries. Turkey claims the incident happened after repeated warnings over air space violations, but Moscow said it could prove the jet had not left the Syrian air space.

Addressing a large gathering of worshippers in Tehran on Friday, Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani pointed to the tension in Ankara-Moscow ties, and expressed the hope that Russia and Turkey would act wisely.

“We call on both sides to practice self-restraint” in dealing with the issue, he noted, hoping for an improvement in the situation.

In similar remarks on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had also described Turkey’s recent move to shoot down the Russian fighter jet as a “provocative” act, but at the same called on Moscow and Ankara to show restraint and prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.   

Elsewhere in his Friday remarks, Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani referred to the recent developments in Syria, saying that the situation there is fortunately improving.

“More than one million displaced people have returned to their homes after the Russian airstrikes on Daesh (ISIL) positions,” the senior cleric said.

Since September 30, Russia has been launching airstrikes against Takfiri terrorists in Syria at the request of the Damascus government. Moscow says its air raids are meant to weaken Daesh and other terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in Syria.

Russia's airstrikes in support of Syrian forces have shifted the balance of power in the conflict between Daesh terrorists and the Syrian army.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including the ISIL, currently controlling parts of it.

According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.