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ANKARA: Turkey on Sunday said it was “astonished “by Iranian accusations that Ankara is supporting the militant Islamic State group and involved in oil dealing with the jihadists in Iraq and Syria.
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement there was nothing in Tehran's accusations to take “seriously.
“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 IS jihadists.
Read more: Russia accuses US of cover-up over IS oil smuggling to Turkey
Erdogan said that he spoke with Rouhani on the phone and told him: “You will pay a high price if it continues like that.”
He added that the Iranians later removed the news from their website.
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Bilgic confirmed the telephone conversation between the two presidents and said any attempts to distort its content were “not only immoral but also equal to hiding the truth from neighbouring Iranian people.
“In response to Erdogan, Iranian foreign ministry on Friday called for “mutual politeness and respect in relations,” according to the Iranian media.
“The continuation of policies and positions that, wanted or unwanted, have led to the support of terrorism in Syria and Iraq, only escalate the current crisis in the region and increase problems for countries that continue such policies,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber-Ansari said according to IRNA.
Read: Turkey, Russia ministers set for first meet since plane downed
Russia and Iran are major backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Turkey is supporting rebels who have been fighting Assad and has joined a US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria earlier this year.
Read: Tensions soar as Turkey shoots down Russian plane
Bilgic said Turkey pursued “principled policies” for a peaceful solution to problems in its region.
He said Ankara was not taking “seriously the terrorism accusations made by the states which led to the escalation of the crisis in cooperation with the Damascus regime,” referring to Iran and Russia.
Also read: Turkey seeks alternatives to Russian energy after plane crisis
Turkey is currently at loggerheads with Russia after downing one of Moscow's warplanes on November 24. Russia has accused Erdogan and his family of involvement in oil trade — charges blasted as “slander” and “immoral” by the Turkish strongman.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said last month that Turkey's downing of the Russian fighter jet “sends the wrong message to the terrorists “in Syria.
Read: Turkey won't apologise to Russia over downing of jet: Davutoglu
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (51) Closed
Dec 06, 2015 04:56pm
conditions of turkey is similar to that of Pakistan of 1980s .every 1 knows end result
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Dec 06, 2015 04:58pm
Truth hurts Mr. Erdogan.
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Dec 06, 2015 05:02pm
I just hope that our government stays careful and out of this Turkey-Russia conflict. It has taken us years to mend our relations with Russia.
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Dec 06, 2015 05:22pm
Unfortunately there is some truth in the news regarding Turkey's involvement in oil business and I believe that they still have time to resolve this issue without endangering their relations with the friends like Russia and Iran.
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Dec 06, 2015 05:39pm
I do not understand what President Erdogan is trying to achieve. (1)He 'interfered' in internal affairs of Egypt. (2) supported the overthrow of Asad in Syria (3) shot down a Russian plane. (4)attacks Kurds fighting IS. It is possible that he wants to be the leader of Sunnis. If so, his tactics are wrong. Arab Sunnis will not accept his leadership. As for the IS oil, Russia was the first to say that some Turk citizens benefit from buying cheap IS oil. Russia produced a a picture of oil tankers lining up at the Turk border with IS. IS recruits seem to have a free pass from the Turk border. The report in the British media support Putin's accusations. President Erdogan might wish to reflect, why so many world leaders are not happy with his IS policy.
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Dec 06, 2015 05:45pm
Turkey has been playing with fire for a long time.
It seems like they don't like to be exposed for what they are which is terrorist supporters.
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Dec 06, 2015 05:58pm
There may be some criminal elements involved in the oil smuggling in turkey, greed and capitalism go hand in hand. The criminals do not care were the oil comes from. But I do not believe for a minute the erdogan or his family is involved, that's just fantasy and stupidity. And why shouldn't Turkey get involved were it has interests. I don't see people complaining why America and Europe are there, oh hang on they are superior beings. However, the shooting down of the Russian jet was wrong.
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Dec 06, 2015 06:11pm
Look at the way Europe treats Turkey. Some of the most poorest countries have joined the European Union, yet Turkey is relatively wealthier than them, but they will never let them join the European Union because Turkey is largely a Muslim country. But they dangle carrot in front of them now and again to get turkey to do its dirty work, for example stopping asylum seekers reaching Europe. Wake up some deluded individuals in turkey it will never happen. European Union would rather let in poor Eastern Europeans who can't speak a word of English and are begging on British streets and claiming benefits that do not even exist in the former communist countries then let Turkish people in who want to work and invest.
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Dec 06, 2015 06:13pm
There is something missing somewhere.
Its a known fact that the bulk of ISIS funding is sourced from the sale of oil. Why is it so difficult to track this oil trail? There are bound to be some denials, accusations and counter accusations?
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Dec 06, 2015 06:20pm
For Pakistan both Iran and Turkey are like brothers.What i will suggest is both countries should try to solve their problem in private.
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Dec 06, 2015 06:40pm
Oil is main problem of all terrorism..when will finish from this earth.
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Dec 06, 2015 06:54pm
Turkey is unfortunately going on the same path which Pakistan followed ,paid heavy price and is still paying. I wish our Turkish brothers should have learn from our experience. They should not support any terrorist outfit no matter what is their cause or ideology.Interfering in Syria will ultimately cause havoc in Turkey.
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Dec 06, 2015 06:57pm
@Umer _As a decent Muslim, I would never accept Turkey as a brother. They are heading towards fundamentalism.
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Dec 06, 2015 07:12pm
We have to understand that Erdogan is not Turkey like Napoleone wasn't France. erdogan is their to makes fortune from his present post no matter what it may cost to the Turkish people. the problem is his agenda matches with those that want to oust Bashar at any cost. with all the money amassed by erdogan fraternity it's highly unlikely that they will be able to use it let alone enjoy it.
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Dec 06, 2015 07:16pm
Ok we trust whatever he said but world needs to see Turkey action against those terrorists who are stationed near the turkey border and manning the oil refinery. They should destroy the oil refinery and finish the issue. Try to remove the doubts against your country through positive act, otherwise world will continue with their accusation and you cant stop.
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Dec 06, 2015 07:43pm
Erdogan is doing exactly, the same, what Zia did with Pakistan. Get up Turks, stop this man, else consequences will be nightmares for Turkey....
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Dec 06, 2015 07:48pm
Turkey is doing no good to peace of the world. They should learn lesson from Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is no good or bad ISIS. Trrrorists are terrorists who will not spare Turkey if they become stronger.
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Dec 06, 2015 07:49pm
Erdogan lives in a world of fantasy and seeks confrontation with his surroundings. He should not strive to turn Turkey into another Saudia Arabia, that is hated by all its neighbors. One wonders sometimes how the US choose its allies...
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Dec 06, 2015 08:38pm
Iran is right.
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Dec 06, 2015 08:46pm
Accept it or refuse it Mr ederogen but it's turkey who will pay the high price for its act... By spoiling relationship with your partner nation like Russia and Iran you will become a monkey of Western nation... And after using you they will throw you away.
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Dec 06, 2015 09:31pm
Erdogan is on the way of destroying turkey.
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Dec 06, 2015 09:50pm
It is unfortunate for Turkey not to have learnt from Pakistan's experience...a research report published by Columbia University states:
'An ISIS commander told The Washington Post on August 12, 2014: "Most of the fighters who joined us in the beginning of the war came via Turkey, and so did our equipment and supplies."'
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Dec 06, 2015 09:53pm
Why Iran has problems with all of its neighbors?
I think Irani regime is dangerous hardliners
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Dec 06, 2015 10:00pm
Both TTP and ISIL are products made in USA, sell in the markets with local brand names. TTP has sanctuary in Afghanistan while ISIL in Turkey.
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Dec 06, 2015 10:26pm
Iran knows that its survival depends upon its support for friend Russia- they won't betray Russia at this time
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Dec 06, 2015 10:26pm
Turkey despite of being at guilty of crimes forcing other nations to remain quiet and ignorant over their theft, terrorism and war crimes.
Mr.Erdogan should better resign as Russia has provided enough evidence in media but these crooked and corrupt emperors like Erdogan do not have such morality either.
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Dec 06, 2015 11:28pm
@faheem
dear Iran is gaining by adopting that policy of 1980s. plz suggest why Pakistan and Turkey are losing by that old policy
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Dec 06, 2015 11:56pm
More introspection, more data, more facts, more research needs to be done to know where we really are, and why. The truth, the actual facts, a total overview has not yet come out. We as a nation do not debate and do not wish to confront the truth. The above studies involve only Saarc countries, involve other Asian countries such as , South Korea, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and we will know our dismal failure better.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:01am
Real danger that Turkey becomes the next Lybia, Yemen, Iraq or Syria.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:24am
Turkeys double game is about to be exposed.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:47am
Amazing how our people jump to conclusion and has the same tone as Russian wants....btw just to know the history, Syrian & Iraqi oil had been sold through turkey for atleast a decade, so its not a surprise that oil is bought by some greedy smugglers of Turkey and Mr Erdogan got blame instead. Also with drop in Oil prices all over the world, it is not viable to buy cheap quality oil from ISIS for $25-30 per barrel (as claimed)...Just connect the dots.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:57am
Erdogan is the only leader in muslim majority states who can speak his mind. He has stood up in the past for Palestine and other oppressed. He is standing up for Turkey. I wish him and Turkey all the best.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:59am
@ayush You don't know the Turkish people!
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Dec 07, 2015 03:00am
@Agent x There is no truth in it!
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Dec 07, 2015 03:07am
@Atam Vetta Americans and the European Union would be the first to jump on Turkey had this accusation been true, as no one knows the area more than the Americans .
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Dec 07, 2015 03:08am
@John its a lie!
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Dec 07, 2015 03:10am
I am astonished by the undiplomatic language used by Turkish leadership
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Dec 07, 2015 03:52am
Mr Erdogan is truly a man of honor and very brave.
Hats off to you sir.
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Dec 07, 2015 06:12am
Brothers should never fight especially Muslim brothers. End this madness!
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Dec 07, 2015 06:13am
@Shahid Pakistans stance is clear. We want nothing to do with Middle East proxy wars. The Syrian problem can only be solved by Syrians and Syrians alone!
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Dec 07, 2015 06:14am
@Atam Vetta while I agree with some points, Turkey sees Kurdish seperatists as a greater threat than Daish or Nusra Front. They have their own narrative and some legitimate grievances, as we do in Afghanistan
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Dec 07, 2015 06:17am
@Hanif very valid points. At any rate Turkiye is our ally and we stand by them always and vice versa
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Dec 07, 2015 06:19am
@ak it won't. The Turkish armed forces are a very powerful force. Turkiye will face bombings im afraid but not anarchy and destruction like Libya. Turks are very nationalistic people
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Dec 07, 2015 06:22am
iran want be superpower.
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Dec 07, 2015 06:30am
Alas! despite being an Islamic country, Iran is blindly supporting Syrian & Russian accusations against Turkey.
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Dec 07, 2015 06:52am
So far what is Turkey's contribution towards its bordering neighbours now reports coming that after menacing with Syria, they are putting up tanks and fotces and boots on Iraqi land.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:15pm
Looks like Middle East and surrounding areas is heading towards an implosion.
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Dec 08, 2015 07:44am
it is possible that the kurdish in iraq are selling oil barrels to kurdish in turkey.
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Dec 09, 2015 09:55am
Erdogan should not be astonish. His policies are very similar to that of Zia, i.e.,simply act to fulfill American agenda. Erdogan is a short-sighted man who cannot envision the dread long term consequences of his policies.
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Dec 09, 2015 03:09pm
As long as Erdogan government continues to create chaos in neighboring countries, he has to listen and face consequences. As a matter of fact Muslims all around the world are astonish by his extreme pro-American policies.
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Dec 09, 2015 11:02pm
Though Turkey is Muslim country but the aim of ruling secular party is to please West so that it can get membership of European Union. Erdogan can do anything to please West. Both Syria and Iraq are suffering due to Turkish govt. interference.
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