'Horrendous Terror Act': Who Was Behind the Murder of a Key Russian Diplomat
TEHRAN (Basirat)- Tuesday's talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey were held in the immediate wake of a grizzly terrorist attack in Ankara in which Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was assassinated by a gunman while visiting an art gallery in the Turkish capital.
Tuesday's talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey were held in the immediate wake of a grizzly terrorist attack in Ankara in which Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was assassinated by a gunman while visiting an art gallery in the Turkish capital.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this "mean terrorist act" was aimed at undermining the normalization of relations between Moscow and Ankara.
"This tragedy makes us all take more efforts to fight terrorism and makes our meeting today even more urgent," according to him.
In a joint statement, the three top diplomats said that their
countries had agreed to help resolve the Syrian conflict, while also
vowing to further improve cooperation in combating terrorism.
Speaking to Sputnik Iran, Hossein Sheikholeslam, an advisor to the Iranian Foreign Minister, strongly condemned the assassination of the Russian Ambassador and called for the mobilization of all forces to eradicate terrorism and solve the Syrian crisis.
Speaking to Sputnik Iran, Hossein Sheikholeslam, an advisor to the Iranian Foreign Minister, strongly condemned the assassination of the Russian Ambassador and called for the mobilization of all forces to eradicate terrorism and solve the Syrian crisis.
I express my sincere condolences to Mr.Karlov's family and the
entire diplomatic corps in Russia. His murder is a horrendous terror act
which should be thoroughly investigated," he said.
He pointed the finger at "the Zionist regime and those who spread terrorism, including monarchs of a number of Arab states," who he said may be behind Karlov's killing.
He pointed the finger at "the Zionist regime and those who spread terrorism, including monarchs of a number of Arab states," who he said may be behind Karlov's killing.
"Russia and Iran did their best to help reduce the civilian death
toll during the liberation of Aleppo. However, the propaganda of our
enemies, opponents of Aleppo's liberation who actually fueled this
crisis in the region, has finally led to the barbaric murder of a
respected diplomat,” Sheikholeslam said referring to Karlov.
Sheikholeslam described the Syrian crisis, which he said was sparked by outside terrorist forces, as "a threat to all of us."
Sheikholeslam described the Syrian crisis, which he said was sparked by outside terrorist forces, as "a threat to all of us."
"We should give each other a helping hand, and we will welcome only
constructive initiatives on the matter. The Syrian refugees should
return to their homes. And it is the Syrian people who should decide
the fate of their country, not some presidents of some countries at some
meetings," he said.
Touching upon the Tuesday talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey, he said that "the most important issue of this meeting was the mobilization of forces for the liberation of the whole of Syria [from terrorists]."
Touching upon the Tuesday talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey, he said that "the most important issue of this meeting was the mobilization of forces for the liberation of the whole of Syria [from terrorists]."
"Now that Aleppo has been liberated, there is hope and opportunity
that this goal may be achieved. And if someone once made a mistake, then
now is the right time to recognize mistakes and not repeat them,"
Sheikholeslam added.
He also said that "we will accept any [political] player, whether he is major or minor, and we will support him."
He also said that "we will accept any [political] player, whether he is major or minor, and we will support him."
"We will fight all those who are only interested in destruction
because we all need peace, security, friendship and stability as well as
the prosperity of our peoples," he concluded.
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, following
protests that turned violent, as part of the so-called Arab Spring. In
the last several months, Aleppo became a major battleground in Syria.
On December 16, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation said that the Syrian army operation to liberate the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo was over, and that the Syrian government troops were eliminating separate hotbeds of militant resistance.
On December 16, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation said that the Syrian army operation to liberate the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo was over, and that the Syrian government troops were eliminating separate hotbeds of militant resistance.
