Turkey summons Iranian envoy over policy criticism

Turkey summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires on Tuesday over Tehran's public criticism of Turkish policies.

Turkey's move followed a meeting at Iran's Foreign Ministry, where Turkey's ambassador met with Mahmoud Heydari, the ministry's Director General for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, on Monday.

The meeting was prompted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent remarks regarding Iran's role in Syria.

"The mutual interests of our nations and the delicate regional situation necessitate the avoidance of inaccurate statements and unfounded analyses that could strain bilateral relations," Heydari stated.

Fidan, in an interview with Al Jazeera, had described Iran's reliance on militias as dangerous and called for a policy shift.

He also suggested that "if you are attempting to destabilize a third country, other nations may reciprocate by supporting groups within your own borders."

Earlier on Monday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson acknowledged disagreements between Tehran and Ankara.

"We place great value on our bilateral relationship with Turkey," Esmaeil Baghaei said. "However, the recurring remarks we have heard were counterproductive, requiring Iran to articulate its position firmly and clearly."

Baghaei further added, "Perhaps our Turkish counterparts should give greater consideration to the policies of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Syria and the wider region."