Iran supports Turkey's democratically elected government

By Gulsen Cagatay

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - We support the current democratically elected government in Turkey in response to the military coup attempt last Friday, Iranian deputy minister said on Tuesday.

Husheng Felahetiyan, deputy energy minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview that the Turkish government has been a source of strength for Turkey.

"We also support the government which backed up its people and their willingness to restore democracy. We support any government activity to reinstate security," he emphasized.

He also noted that Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to show his support to the government during the first days of the coup.

The Turkish government said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through supporters within Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming the so-called parallel state.