Iran Denies Launching Missile Toward Turkey

SadaNews - The Iranian armed forces denied launching any missiles toward Turkey, confirming their respect for Ankara's territorial sovereignty in a statement published by state media today, Thursday.

The statement from the General Staff, which was reported by CNN, said: "The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the neighboring and friendly state of Turkey and refute any reports about missile launches into the territory of this state."

The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated on Wednesday that NATO's air and missile defense systems destroyed a ballistic missile that was launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace and passed over Syria and Iraq in the eastern Mediterranean.

The ministry added in its statement that the incident did not result in any casualties or injuries, while noting that Turkey reserves the right to respond to any hostile action against it, but it also calls on the concerned parties to refrain from any steps that might escalate the situation.

For his part, a Turkish diplomatic source reported that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed Ankara's protest regarding the ballistic missile launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

He also added that Fidan informed Araghchi during a phone call of the necessity to avoid any actions that could broaden the conflict.

Later, another Turkish diplomatic source mentioned that Ankara summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to express its protest and concern regarding the ballistic missile launched from Iran aimed at its airspace.