Turkey ‘Astonished’ over Iran’s Media Reports on Oil Trade with Daesh
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Turkish foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday said Ankara was “astonished” by Iranian media reports that Ankara is involved in illegal oil trade with the Daesh (ISIL) Takfiri terrorist group.
Tanju Bilgic claimed in a statement there was nothing in the reports to “take seriously”, AFP reported on Sunday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he had warned his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani over some Iranian media reports that he and his family were involved in oil trade with Daesh terrorists.
In response to Erdogan, Iranian foreign ministry on Friday called for “mutual politeness and respect in relations.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari urged neighboring countries to show courtesy and respect and avoid adventurism and accept responsibility for their political stances.
He said pursuing policies that intentionally or unintentionally support terrorism in Syria and Iraq “will only lead to the aggravation of current crisis in the region and an increase in the problems of the countries which adopt such policies.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier accused Turkey of purchasing crude oil from Daesh.
The Daesh militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the last summer, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.
The Takfiri group, which is believed to be supported by the West and some regional states, has been committing heinous crimes in Iraq, Syria and several other countries.