Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 8
By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:
Iran has denied news about its ambassador being summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, saying it was ambassador's own initiative.
Iran's ISNA anonymously quoted Iranian foreign ministry's official, who called the Turkish side's announcement "a lie".
According to the report, Iran's ambassador to Ankara, Alireza Bigdeli, has requested a meeting with Turkish foreign ministry to explain Iran's position about the latest events in region.
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Thursday that Iran’s ambassador to Ankara was summoned over the controversy created by some Iranian media outlets on Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
"The Iranian ambassador was summoned to the office over Iranian media broadcast that linked Erdogan’s visit to Saudi Arabia with the executions of 47 people there," the announcement said.
Before, Iran's Islamic Republic Dailynews, headed by Masih Mohajeri, who was appointed directly by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, published an article on Jan.3 that "Erdogan's visit to Saudi Arabia a day before executions was doubtful".
Turkish FM's statement condemned the stories run by the Iranian media and the accusations against Erdogan, demanding an end to such publications and broadcast that aim to create a negative image of the Turkish president in the minds of Iranians.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia between Dec. 29 and Dec. 31.
On Jan. 2, Saudi Arabia executed prominent Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, along with 46 others convicted of "terrorism". Tehran warned that Saudi Arabia would pay a "steep price" for the cleric’s death, while Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and the Iranian city of Mashhad.
On Jan. 3, Riyadh severed all diplomatic ties with Iran and gave Iranian diplomats 48 hours to leave the kingdom.
Following Riyadh’s lead, Bahrain and Sudan cut diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic on Jan. 4, while the United Arab Emirates scaled down its diplomatic representation in Tehran.
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