Last Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh expressed in a statement to the Iranian agency "IRNA" his country's opposition to the expected Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria.

Khatibazadeh called on Ankara to "respect the understandings reached during the negotiations on the Astana route," he said and added, "Iran opposes any military action and use of force in other countries' territories to resolve bilateral disputes," given that the operation is a "violation of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of these countries."

Iran's project contradicts Turkish policy aimed at controlling separatist-controlled areas in northeastern Syria.