Iran - Oct 28
Iran accused Turkey of prolonging the Syrian Civil War by insisting on President Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow and supporting terrorist groups within Syria. Tehran and Ankara have backed opposing sides in the civil war, which pits rebel Sunni forces against Assad, Tehran’s closest regional ally. The comments appear to have been a response to remarks by Turkish President Erdogan, who accused Iran of playing on Syria’s sectarian divisions. Turkey has been a main transit point for foreign militants crossing into Syria to fight Assad and while it, like Iran, fears the growth of the Islamic State, Turkey has refused to join the US led coalition against IS unless the mandate is expanded to confront Assad, a demand Washington has rejected. Source: Reuters