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Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Friday that attacks in Türkiye and Oman were not carried out by Iranian forces or affiliated groups.
“The attacks that took place in Türkiye and Oman—both of which have good relations with us—were in no way carried out by the armed forces of Iran or the forces of the resistance front,” Khamenei said in a written Nowruz message.
“This is the Zionist enemy's trick, using the ploy of a false flag, which it employs to sow discord among neighbors, and it may occur in other countries as well,” he added.
Ankara said last week that a third ballistic missile from Iran was shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO forces, marking the third such incident since the war began.
NATO intercepted a first missile on March 4 and a second on March 9.
Following the second interception, NATO deployed Patriot air defense systems in the central Malatya region, where the Kurecik air base is located. The base hosts a NATO early-warning radar system operated by U.S. troops capable of detecting Iranian missile launches.
Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that NATO is deploying an additional Patriot missile battery at Incirlik air base in southern Adana province.
“Another Patriot system... is being deployed... in addition to the existing Spanish Patriot system stationed there,” a ministry official told reporters.
The developments come as regional tensions continue to rise following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran launched on Feb. 28, which have killed around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
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