‘Iran concerned over Turkey’s decision to host NATO radar system’

TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Saturday that Turkey’s decision to host an early warning radar as part of NATO’s missile defense system has caused concern for the Islamic Republic and many of its neighbors.

Turkey’s decision to host the system “has caused worry for the Islamic Republic and many of its neighboring countries. We do not see any necessity for the installation of such a system at this juncture that the region is witnessing various developments,” Salehi said in a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in Tehran.

The system is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile threat from Iran.

“We hope that Turkey will be able to provide the necessary justification in this regard,” Salehi stated, adding, “We should not allow more misunderstanding to occur in the region.”

“We have always made efforts to resolve the existing problems in cooperation with our neighbors and to help improve peace, stability, and security in the region. We hope that we will prevent others from paving the way for misunderstanding to occur,” he stated.

He also said that regional countries should be vigilant about efforts meant to create dissension among them.

Nalbandian commented on Turkey’s decision and said, “We are pursuing the issue seriously and will announce our stance after studying (the matter).”