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Turkey Could Enter Syrian Fray as Part of Russian Anti-Terror Coalition

© REUTERS / Kayhan Ozer/Presidential PalaceTurkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Istanbul, Turkey March 19, 2016
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Istanbul, Turkey March 19, 2016 - Sputnik International
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The next few months may see Turkey join the anti-terror coalition in Syria which includes Iran and Russia, Iranian political analyst Reza Moghaddasi told Sputnik.

Syrian army soldiers patrol the area around the entrance of Bani Zeid after taking control of the previously rebel-held district of Leramun, on the northwest outskirts of Aleppo, on July 28, 2016 - Sputnik International
Cooperation of Russia, Turkey and Iran 'Would Help to Resolve Syrian Crisis'
In an interview with Sputnik, Iranian political analyst Reza Moghaddasi did not rule out the possibility of Turkey finally joining the anti-terror coalition in Syria which comprises Russia and Iran, in light of the ongoing improvement in Russian-Turkish relations.

The interview came ahead of Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to the Turkish capital Ankara, where he will meet an array of senior Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

High on the agenda will be developing relations between Turkey and Iran, as well as ways to resolve the Syrian issue.

Moghaddasi recalled that the visit will be Javad Zarif's first official trip to Ankara after an attempted military coup in Turkey on July 16.

He also said that in a recent telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Erdogan signaled his country's desire to cooperate more with Russia and Iran on the fight against terrorism.

"So today's visit by Javad Zarif to Turkey and the recent historic visit by Erdogan to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, as well as a historic meeting of the leaders Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia in Baku pave the way for a constructive dialogue between these countries on the anti-terror cooperation," Moghaddasi said.

Tehran expects Turkey to learn "an important and useful lesson" from the coup which was supported by European countries and the US, he said, adding that the West remaining silent on the matter certainly offended the Turkish leaders.

"It is safe to assume therefore that Turkey is now highly interested in joining the anti-terrorist coalition in Syria with the participation of Russia and Iran," he said.

Russian army sappers work at the historic part of Palmyra, Syria, in this photo released by Russian Ministry of Defence on April 9, 2016 - Sputnik International
Russia is the 'Only Adult in the Room' When it Comes to Syria
He expressed hope that the attempted coup will prompt President Erdogan to rethink his stance on a wide range of pressing issues.

Resolving the Syrian crisis was high on the agenda of talks between Putin and Erdogan in St. Petersburg on August 9. In the run-up to the meeting, Erdogan signaled his country's readiness to take joint steps with Moscow in the fight against terrorism.

The strained relations between Russia and Turkey started to improve after Erdogan's letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the Turkish leader expressed regret and apologized for Ankara downing a Russian jet in November 2015.

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