TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has said that Iran expects Turkey and other neighboring countries not to take measures that would help advance policies that would create tension in the region. 

Mehmanparast made the remarks on Thursday in reference to the fact that Turkey has agreed to host an early warning radar as part of NATO’s missile defense system, which is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile threat from Iran. 

“We believe that the deployment of part of NATO’s missile defense system in Turkey will not contribute to stability and security in the region or even security in the host country,” he stated. 

Mehmanparast added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the expansion of NATO’s presence in the region is itself a source of insecurity, which would help the West extend its domination (of the region) and push ahead with its colonialist policies.” 

“Therefore, friendly and neighboring countries are expected to exercise more vigilance and take the security interests of the region into consideration and not to pave the way for the implementation of such tension-creating policies, which will have complicated consequences,” he said.  

Iran has always emphasized that the adoption of military approaches must be avoided, and it condemns any action that would lead to militarization and a global arms race, Mehmanparast stated.