Turkey expresses concern over protests in Iran, warns against violence
| File Photo


Turkey's foreign ministry warned against violence and provocations in Iran, amid ongoing protests which left 21 people dead, expressing hope that there will be no foreign intervention in the country.

In a statement released Tuesday, the foreign ministry said that Turkey is concerned about the protests in Iran, which turned violent and that the protection of peace and stability in the country is important.

It said Iran is a friend and brotherly country to Turkey, which attributes great importance for the preservation of social peace and stability.

"In this context, we believe the statement of President [Hassan] Rouhani [of Iran] that people have a right to peaceful protest but the law should not be violated and that public property should not be harmed should be taken into account, and violence and provocation should be avoided.

"We wish for peace in the country to be ensured, as soon as possible, and that common sense would prevail to prevent the escalation of the incidents, and that provocative rhetoric and external interventions would be avoided."

Meanwhile on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu spoke to his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on the phone regarding the latest developments in protests.

Thousands of Iranians hit the streets Thursday in the northeastern cities of Mashhad and Kashmar to protest rising commodity prices and perceived government mismanagement, according to local media reports.

Thursday's protests were followed by pro-government protests Saturday.

At least 21 people, including a police officer, have been killed in the protests across the country.

In addition, around 400 people have been detained, including some 200 in the capital Tehran. The other arrests were reported in the cities of Arak, Isfahan and Robat Karim and West Azerbaijan province.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday warned Iranians against the ongoing anti-government protests.