Iran, Turkey defense chiefs censure Trump's al-Quds ’mistake’

Rasa - The Iranian and Turkish defense chiefs have denounced as “a big mistake” a US decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital.”

News ID: 435294

Date: 12 December 2017 - 23:13

RNA - Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and his Turkish counterpart, Nurettin Canikli, held a telephone conversation on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments pertaining to mutual relations and regional issues.

Hatami said that Trump’s move was in fact meant to make up for Washington’s repeated policy failures in the region, particularly the collapse of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, the annulment of the referendum on the separation of Iraq’s Kurdistan region as well as a decision by Lebanon’s Prime Minister Sa'ad al-Hariri to rescind his resignation, which was announced in Saudi Arabia a month ago.

On December 6, Trump sparked international outrage by declaring that Washington was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and that he had instructed his administration to begin the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the ancient city

Hatami censured Washington’s “irresponsible” policy to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, saying it would embolden the Tel Aviv regime to intensify its atrocities against Palestinians.

Hatami further praised defense cooperation between Tehran and Ankara, saying the collapse of Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria was thanks to “regional cooperation and interactions between Iran, Turkey and Syria.”

The Iranian defense chief also called for the expansion of Tehran-Ankara military cooperation.

Canikli highlighted the commonalities between Iran and Turkey and said the recent developments necessitate further cooperation between the two countries,

He added that “no power can negatively impact the friendship and fraternity between the two nations.”

He slammed Trump’s announcement of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli “capital” as a blunder and said “the decision is not accepted by any Muslim in the world."

Trump’s declaration has sent shock waves throughout the Muslim world, and even prompted warnings from Washington’s allies in the West that it would bring more chaos to the region.

Israel lays claim to the entire city as its “capital,” while Palestinians want its eastern part as the capital of their future state.

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