Iranian MP hails Erdogan's stance over US sanctions

By Serif Serifoglu and Ahmet Dursun

ISTANBUL

An Iranian lawmaker on Wednesday hailed Turkish president’s stance when the U.S. had imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers.

Speaking to Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Seyed Javad Sadatinejad praised Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan for feeding his people with correct information about economic situation in the country.

Sadatinejad said: “Erdogan explained what the fluctuations in exchange rates would cause and he conveyed his expectations to the people in terms of U.S. sanctions.”

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul in August amid a row about pastor Andrew Brunson, an American cleric who was detained in Turkey on terrorism charges. He was released last month.

The U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.

In retaliation, Turkey increased tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.

In early November, the U.S. announced the lifting of the blacklisting of ministers.

In a tit-for-tat move, Turkey also removed sanctions on U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

Sadatinejad said the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the officials should inform the public about the U.S. sanctions on Iran and the increase in exchange rates.

In August, the U.S. re-imposed a first round of sanctions that mainly targeted Iran’s banking sector. A second phase of sanctions -- targeting Iran’s energy sector -- came into effect on Nov. 5.

“No one in Iran talked about the increase in the exchange rate. If the public is not properly informed, the enemies offer misleading information to the people,” Sadatinejad said.