TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Wednesday that Iran is worried about continuation of Turkey’s presence and military operation in Syria’s soil.

“Fighting terrorism and making efforts to maintain stability and security in the region are unchangeable and important principles in the foreign policy of regional peace-seeking countries, however, the issue cannot and should not be an excuse for violating other countries’ territorial integrity and carrying out military operation without permission of the central government (of Syria) and ignoring the country’s national sovereignty,” he said.

He added that any mechanism that does not respect countries’ “political sovereignty” and “legitimate power” while fighting terrorism is “unacceptable”.

Qassemi also said that continuation of Turkey’s military presence in Syria’s soil will further complicate the regional situation.

“The Spreading of clashes in north of Syria will lead to an increase in the death toll of innocent civilians and it is essential for the Turkish army to immediately stop military actions in Syria,” he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to press ahead with the military operation in northen Syria until the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Kurdish Syrian fighters no longer pose a security threat to Ankara, according to AP.

NA/AK