Turkey casts doubt on Iran 'plot'
2011-10-21 22:15
Ankara - Nato member and close US ally Turkey
cast doubt on Friday over allegations that Iranian agents plotted to kill the
Saudi ambassador in Washington, saying it did not believe Iran would be engaged
in such an act.
"We don't believe that Iran would be
engaged in such an act, but America says they have evidence," Ahmet
Davutolgu, Turkey's foreign minister, told a joint news conference with his
visiting Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi.
"Governments should be transparent on
such issues. Those who make the claims should also be clear about their claims,
and Iran should answer to that," Davutoglu said.
Tehran has denied the allegations, saying
they are part of a smear campaign. Salehi said it was a "waste of
time" to talk about the accusations.
The affair has aggravated tensions between
the US and Iran. They have had no relations since Iran's 1979 Islamic
Revolution and the atmosphere has been poisoned further by Western concerns
over Iran's nuclear programme.
Davutoglu called on the US and Iran to
address their differences constructively.
"What needs to be done now is that all
parties involved share what they have and clear the issue without giving way to
a further increase in tensions. Turkey is ready to contribute if there is
anything we can do to help relieve the tension."
Turkish media reported this week that the US
had sent representatives to Turkey to present evidence of the alleged plot and
discuss the allegations with Turkish officials.
A US embassy spokesperson would not comment
on the reports. "Our position on this issue is well known," he said.
US President Barack Obama has said Iran will
face the harshest possible sanctions for the alleged plot and has not ruled out
military action. A US grand jury on Thursday formally indicted two men
suspected of being part the plot.
European Union governments agreed on Friday
to impose sanctions on five people linked to the alleged plot, after Britain
froze the assets of five men, including the two central suspects.
Turkey, which has built up strong trade and
political ties over the last years with Iran, has been out of step with the US
stance towards Tehran in the past, but it agreed last month to host a radar
system for a Nato missile shield programme.
Washington has increased pressure on Ankara
to enforce sanctions against Iran over Tehran's nuclear activities.
Turkey says it observes UN sanctions against
Iran but says it is not obligated to adhere to a separate set of US and
European sanctions.
