Roundup: Iran supportive of Turkey's foiling of coup attempt

Iranian officials on Saturday unanimously condemned recent coup attempt in Turkey and shouldered their support for Turkey's government in foiling the coup attempt.

Iran fully supports the legitimate Turkish government and the will of country's people against coup, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ali Shamkhani, was quoted as saying by Press TV on Saturday.

Iran condemns any military move to forcefully impose political will and supports the resolve of the Turkish people, Shamkhani said at the end of a SNSC meeting chaired by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani.

A military statement on Turkish media said Friday the armed forces have seized power in the country but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early Saturday the coup attempt has failed, urging people to protect democracy.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday also praised the resistance of Turkish people against coup attempt as a victory of democracy.

"The brave support of the Turkish people of democracy and their elected government proved that the coup has no room in the region and is doomed to failure," Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

On early Saturday, Zarif expressed concerns over the coup attempt in Turkey, saying that "deeply concerned about the crisis in Turkey. Stability, democracy and safety of Turkish people are paramount."

The Iranian foreign minister urged solidarity among the Turkish people, saying that "unity and prudence are imperative" for his neighboring country in the face of regional perils.

Besides, the senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday reiterated Iran's opposition to any use of force to topple democratically-elected governments, particularly the recent abortive coup attempt in Turkey, Press TV reported.

Ali Akbar Velayati said that governments have for years assumed office through popular vote and democratic channels in Turkey.

"If a few military personnel seek to crush underfoot the vote of the people under the influence of whatever factor or factors and overthrow the popular government of Erdogan, the Islamic republic of Iran will naturally oppose it," he pointed out.

On Saturday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani also lauded the victory of democracy and national will over "a desperate bid" in Turkey to topple the country's government through an military coup.

In a message to Turkey's Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman, Larijani offered congratulations to his counterpart, members of the parliament, government and people in Turkey on the "victory of the nation's will, national sovereignty and democracy over a desperate and doomed measure" against the country's democratically-elected bodies, the report said.

"Events over past few hours showed very well that the nations' vote, will and demand are decisive," he said.

As an establishment which relies on people's votes and demands as well as Islamic principles, Iran has always supported democratically-elected governments as well as their people and national sovereignty, he added.

Also on Saturday, Shamkhani, said that "We are cognizant about the current situation in Turkey, and we consider instability in Turkey as the instability of our own country," Tasnim news agency reported.

"All the ground and aerial borders of Iran is under full control, and comprehensive surveillance is underway in the border areas," Shamkhani was quoted as saying.

On Saturday, it was announced here that the Iranian airlines have resumed their flights between Tehran and Istanbul, official IRNA news agency reported. Endit