Iran is ready to mediate in resolving the political differences between Turkey and Syria over the situation in Idlib, said Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting.

According to him, "combating terrorists should be done with utmost care for the lives of civilians. “This is what we have always stressed,” he said, a point also underlined in all final documents of the Astana format. Stressing the need to implement the Sochi Agreement on Idlib and to ensure that the crisis is settled through political means, he said that terrorists must not be allowed to exploit the situation, consolidate their positions and turn Idlib into their safe haven. He advocated vigilance to not confuse the protection of civilians with the protection of terrorists. As an Astana Guarantor, Iran is ready to use its good offices to foster a political settlement between Turkey and Syria. Recalling that a summit of the Guarantors of the Astana format will take place in Tehran, he stressed that the fight against terrorism must continue unabated. Every effort must be made by all parties to protect civilians. The situation in Idlib will only be resolved through political means, he said, calling for full respect for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence," UN press service reported.

The Turkish Defense Ministry said Monday five Turkish military and one civilian personnel were killed in shelling by the Syrian government army in Idlib. Then Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that five military and three civilians were killed.

Later, the Turkish leader said he had urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the offensive in the Idlib province and withdraw from Turkish observation posts in February, otherwise threatening with a military response.