TEHRAN: Iran on Friday dismissed as “ridiculous” allegations by Israel’s foreign minister while on a visit to Ankara that the Islamic republic was planning anti-Israeli attacks in Turkey.
“The baseless allegations... are ridiculous and part of a pre-designed plot to destroy relations between the two Muslim countries,” foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
“It is expected from Turkey not to remain silent in the face of these divisive allegations,” he said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday thanked Turkey for thwarting an alleged Iranian assassination plot against its tourists in Istanbul.
“We’re not only talking about the murder of innocent Israeli tourists, but also a clear violation of Turkish sovereignty by Iranian terror,” Lapid said.
Media outlets in Turkey have reported the arrest of eight people allegedly working for an Iranian intelligence cell that planned to kill Israeli tourists in Istanbul.
Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long shadow war but tensions have ratcheted up following a string of high-profile incidents that Tehran has blamed on Israel.
The Islamic republic has pointed at Israel for the killing of Revolutionary Guards Col. Sayyad Khodai at his Tehran home on May 22.
Two other senior Guard members have also died — one in a reported accident and the other in a shooting — in the past month.
The Revolutionary Guard, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, said Thursday it was replacing its veteran intelligence chief.
Khatibzadeh stressed that Iran would respond forcefully to “assassinations and acts of sabotage by the Zionist regime” but “without threatening the security of civilians and the security of other countries.”
Israel last week urged its citizens to leave Turkey because of the “real and immediate danger” coming from Iranian operatives.
It is still keeping Istanbul at its highest level of travel warning, while putting the rest of Turkey on the second-highest alert.
Iran rejects Israeli charges of attacks in Turkey
https://arab.news/n8xpu
Iran rejects Israeli charges of attacks in Turkey
- Israeli Foreign Minister on Thursday thanked Turkey for thwarting an alleged Iranian assassination plot against its tourists in Istanbul
- Media outlets in Turkey have reported the arrest of eight people allegedly working for an Iranian intelligence cell
Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to strengthen ties, expand cooperation across diverse sectors
- Pakistan FM, Bangladesh’s Khalil ur Rahman promise a ‘forward-looking partnership,’ cooperation at multilateral fora
- Both nations have begun sea trade, resumed direct flights and strengthened institutional linkages amid thaw in ties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across a range of sectors, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Sunday, amid a thaw in ties between the two countries.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same country until Bangladesh’s secession following a bloody civil war in 1971, an event that long cast a shadow over bilateral ties.
Both countries have moved closer since 2024, following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was considered an India ally as Dhaka-New Delhi ties remain strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to her.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr. Khalil-ur-Rahman and congratulated him on his appointment, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
“Both leaders expressed desire to further strengthening bilateral ties, with a shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity,” the Pakistani ministry said.
“They also agreed to expand cooperation across diverse sectors and in multilateral fora, building a forward-looking partnership for the peoples of Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
The two South Asian nations began sea trade in late 2024, which were followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce. Last month, national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed in the Pakistani port city of Karachi for the first regular flight since 2012.
Amid growing institutional linkages between the two nations, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif last week said he hoped to further strengthen relations with Bangladesh as Tarique Rahman took oath as the country’s new premier.
Pakistani Planning Miniter Ahsan Iqbal also called on PM Tarique after his oath-taking ceremony in Dhaka and conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan on his election, according to the Pakistani information ministry.
“Iqbal conveyed a formal invitation from the prime minister of Pakistan to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date,” the ministry said.
