Erdogan due in Iran despite spat over Yemen

Turkish president set to visit the Islamic Republic on Tuesday, after decrying Tehran for backing 'terrorist' Houthi rebels

By AFP 5 April 2015, 11:57 am
Illustrative: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a news conference during a meeting with Romania's President at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on April 1, 2015. (AFP PHOTO / DANIEL MIHAILESCU)

TEHRAN, Iran — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit Iran on Tuesday despite a war of words between the neighboring countries over conflicts from Syria to Yemen, Tehran confirmed.

There had been calls from Iranian conservatives for the visit to be canceled after Erodgan accused Shiite Tehran of backing “terrorist” rebels in the face of an air campaign in Yemen led by its Sunni arch-rival Riyadh.

But the foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday that the scheduled state visit would go ahead.

It will be Erodgan’s second official visit to Iran. In January 2014, he visited as prime minister.

It comes hot on the heels of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers that has aroused commercial ambitions around the world in the expectation of an easing of international sanctions.

Turkey is the key backer of rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Iran is his main regional supporter.

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