TEHRAN, Oct 12 (DNA): Iran has the capacity to help settle the issues between Turkey and Syria, Ramin Mehmanparast, an Iranian diplomat and former spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said with reference to recent conflicts and military operation of Turkey in the northern Syria.

On Wednesday, Turkey launched a military campaign in northern Syria to eliminate the Kurdish forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces and its umbrella of the People’s Protection Units, which are both deemed by Ankara as terrorists.

Turkey’s move was followed by condemnation of European and regional states.

Syrian Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned Turkey’s military campaign, saying that protecting the Syrian people is the duty of the Syrian army only. Damascus vowed to counter the Turkish attack “by all means possible.”

Iran also frowned on Turkey’s operation, saying it “understands Turkey’s security concerns, however, it believes that the military action would not diminish Turkey’s security concerns but would cause material and humanitarian damage.”

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani echoed Syrian government’s position on Wednesday by stating that it was Syria’s army which should provide security in the borders of the Arab state including in Syria’s northern borders with Turkey.

“We should provide all the grounds for the presence of Syria’s army in these regions, and all other countries should help,” he noted.=DNA

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