Turkey said Wednesday it is opposed to economic sanctions against Iran for its nuclear activities, wary over their impact on regional trade.
Speaking at a news conference, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu slammed Iran for its latest missile tests, but insisted that tensions between the Islamic republic and the West should be settled through diplomacy.
"We do not believe sanctions bear results," Davutoglu said, stressing that similar measures against Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule "hurt mostly the Iraqi people and neighbors."
Turkey, which holds a non-permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council, would "be among the countries to suffer most from sanctions against Iran," he said.
"The problems must be resolved through diplomacy only," the minister said. "There should be no fresh military conflict, no fresh military tensions in the region."
Davutoglu stressed his message was directed also at Iran after it tested missiles capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe Monday, adding to already simmering tensions over its controversial nuclear program.
"Efforts aimed at demonstrating deterrence through [missile] tests are not the right thing to do either," he said.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Turkey has in recent years improved ties with Iran, its eastern neighbor, and has sought to help resolve the dispute between its Western allies and Tehran.
Davutoglu voiced hope that Thursday's meeting between six world powers and Iran over the country's nuclear program would reduce the tensions.
Ankara has said it was instrumental in arranging the talks, to be held in Geneva.
"We are making efforts to resolve the problem without the need for economic sanctions...without a draft resolution [on sanctions] being submitted to the Security Council," Davutoglu said.
The U.S. is pressing for new sanctions against Iran if it continues to defy international demands to halt uranium enrichment - while also offering incentives for cooperation.
Russia and China, which enjoy good economic ties with Iran, have also resisted tougher sanctions.