Iran denies role in Turkey, Oman attacks; blames Israeli 'false flags'

Tehran: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei denied Iranian involvement in recent assaults on Turkey and Oman, accusing Israel of "false flag" operations to sow discord with neighbors.

In an Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz message on his website, Khamenei stressed Tehran's strong ties with both nations: Iran has appropriate relations with Turkey and Oman. He warned such deceptions could target other countries too, per Xinhua.

Khamenei urged better Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, offering Iran's mediation, and prioritized domestic gains. He declared 2026 the "year of resistance economy in light of national unity," emphasizing infrastructure, welfare, and wealth creation.

Turkey's Defence Ministry announced Wednesday a second Patriot system deployment to Adana province, supplementing Spain's existing unit. This follows a March 13 Iranian ballistic missile intercepted over the eastern Mediterranean after entering Turkish airspace.

Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk stated: "In addition to the measures taken at the national level to ensure the security of our airspace and our citizens, a further Patriot system, deployed by Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany, is being stationed in Adana, supplementing the existing Spanish Patriot system already based there."

The moves come amid fallout from February 28 US-Israeli strikes on Tehran and other cities, which killed Iran's then-supreme leader, commanders, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages on Israeli and US targets in the region.

(Inputs from IANS)