Iran offers hand of friendship to Turkey’s Erdogan

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/2016/03/iran-offers-hand-of-friendship-to-turkeys-erdogan/

Iran offers hand of friendship to Turkey’s Erdogan
By M.K. Bhadrakumar on March 20, 2016 i

The parting of ways between Russia and Iran over the Syrian question has always been inevitable. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s talks with the Turkish leadership in Istanbul on Saturday may signify that Tehran has begun trimming sails for a new voyage on own steam.

Moscow probably made a last-minute attempt to discourage Iran from moving forward with Erdogan whom it demonizes, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov phoning Zarif on the eve of his departure for Istanbul to remind him of shared Russian-Iranian interest in finding a political solution in Syria.

But Zarif’s hugely resonant remarks to the Turkish President Recep Erdogan at their meeting in Istanbul will leave the Kremlin in no doubt that it is khuda hafiz (farewell).

Zarif told Erdogan that Iran and Turkey should join hands to resolve the ongoing crisies in the Middle East region. “Cooperation between Iran and Turkey is effective and useful in settling regional crises,” he said.

[DetlefK]

1. Makes sense. Iran tries to establish itself diplomatically after years of isolation.