TEHRAN – Ranking Iranian officials have condemned the abortive military coup in Turkey, saying Tehran fully backs the democratic and legitimate government of Ankara.

Friday midnight was quite disturbing moments for the Turkish government and nation as a group of senior military officials seized power using military machines. However, the coup failed as Turkish people took to the streets in reply to President Erdogan’s call on the nation to take command of the unrest.

The incident left as many as 160 people killed, including many civilians, and more than a thousand injured. Also, many coup plotters were killed and many more surrendered themselves to the police.

Being a neighbor of Turkey, Iran was among the first ones to react.

Tehran backs legitimate Turkish government
 
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said, “As the formal stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we condemn coup plotters and announce our support for the legitimate government of the country (Turkey) and respect for the vote and will of the Turkish people.”

Having attended an extraordinary session held by the SNSC on assess the situation in Turkey, Shamkhani emphasized that the coup attempt is antithetical to the real will of the Turkish people.
 
Noting that Iran has been receiving moment-to-moment updates on the failed coup attempt, the official said Tehran “is against any sort of coup in the country either backed by domestic or foreign plotters.”

He also hailed the Turkish political factions and people for condemning the coup, seeing it as a factor of paramount importance.

“What has determined the fate of Turkey’s developments were the will and presence of the nation and vigilance of political parties whose contribution thwarted this coup.”

On concerns over security measures taken at borders Iran shares with Turkey, Shamkhani said security forces have been on alert and no incidence has been reported up to now.

“Northwest borders with Turkey are secure enough and ground and air forces are well prepared.”

Zarif: Coups in region doomed to fail

Reacting to the abortive military move, the Iranian foreign minister praised the Turkish people for their bravery in aborting the military coup.

“Turkish people's brave defense of democracy and their elected government proves that coups have no place in our region and are doomed to fail,” Zarif tweeted.

Zarif also said he is “deeply concerned about the crisis in Turkey.”

The Iranian foreign minister also spoke three times by phone with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, discussing the latest developments in the country.

From the very beginning of the turmoil, Zarif has been emphasizing the role of people in the democratic system of the country as well as the need for all to respect the people’s votes.

Also, in a statement carried by the official website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Tehran stressed that the Islamic Republic “is deeply concerned about stability, security, unity, democracy, and the rule of law in Turkey.”

Tehran attaches great significance to a democratic, secure, and stable Turkey and hopes that Ankara restores serenity as soon as possible, the statement said.

 ‘Democratically elected governments enjoy Iranian support’

Also, the Iranian parliament speaker wrote to his Turkish counterpart, saying Iran “has always supported national sovereignty and will of democratically elected governments.”

“Developments of the past hours indicated that the nations’ votes and will is decisive…” Ali Larijani pointed out. 

Elsewhere, Larijani felicitated his counterpart on the failure of the coup.

Leader aide: Tehran opposed to coup in Turkey

Reacting to the abortive coup attempt, Ali Akbar Velayati, the top advisor to the Supreme Leader, laid emphasis on Iran’s opposition to overthrowing democratically-elected governments.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state governed by religious democracy, i.e. a government based on popular vote within the framework of Islamic values and is naturally against any illegal move and act of bullying to change popular governments,” Velayati said in an interview with the Tasnim news agency.   

He added that the governments in Turkey have for years assumed office through popular vote and democratic channels.

“If a few military personnel seek to crush underfoot the vote of the people under the influence whatever factor or factors and overthrow the popular government of Erdogan, the Islamic Republic of Iran will naturally and according to the principles it believes in oppose this coup d’état or any other coups,” he pointed out, according to Press TV.

Linking the coup to the Syrian crisis, Velayati referred to signs of a change of tack by the Turkish government, hailing it as a “step forward.”

“President Bashar al-Assad also has been elected by the Syrians’ vote and if it had not been for the people’s support, it would have been impossible for him to withstand five years of an international war against the country.”

AK/PA