TEHRAN (Reuters)–Iran condemned planned joint military exercises by Turkey–Israel and the United States–saying they threatened security in the region–the official Iranian news agency IRNA said on Monday.
"Foreign Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi said expansion of Ankara-Tel Aviv cooperation including the military exercise will mar security in the region," IRNA said.
"Mohammadi called on Turkey to pay serious attention to the interests of the world of Islam and move in this direction.
"Stressing that the US and the Zionist regime (Israel) are after upsetting regional security–the Foreign Ministry spokesman’said that the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot remain indifferent towards these developmen’s," IRNA added.
Turkey is due to hold twice-postponed naval search and rescue maneuvers with Israel and the United States in the eastern Mediterranean from January 5 to 9.
Turkish leaders have said their ties with Israel pose no threat to other nations–but Turkey has come under fire from neighboring Iran and many Arab states–particularly Syria–for its military links with the Jewish state.
