Turkish FM Calls US Sanctions on Iran Unwise, Dangerous

Local Editor

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday criticized the US resumption of sanctions on Iran as unilateral, not wise and dangerous, calling for a dialogue and engagement instead.

Cavusoglu, in Tokyo for talks with Japanese leaders, told reporters that Turkey opposes sanctions because they don't achieve results.

"As a principle Turkey is against sanctions and we don't believe that any result can be achieved through sanctions," he said. "Cornering is not wise, isolating Iran is dangerous and punishing the Iranian people is not fair."

The Trump administration's resumption of sanctions on Iran took effect Monday.

Turkey is a US ally and one of eight major importers of Iranian oil spared temporarily from immediate penalties.

Still, Turkey has to be frank with the US about its opposition. The US "unilateral" measure affects the world, including Turkey, one-third of whose gas imports come from Iran, he said, and urged Washington to find other reasonable solutions. "I think instead of sanctions, meaningful dialogue and engagement is much useful and this is our principle."

Regarding the Khashoggi case, Cavusoglu urged Saudi Arabia to fully cooperate in the investigation of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month, demanding the country locate his missing body and hand over suspected collaborators.

Turkey is determined to get to the bottom of the case and Saudi Arabia hasn't answered the key questions, he said. "We have to find out how it happened, who did it and who gave the instructions, and we also have to find Khashoggi’s.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team