HispanicBusiness

Iran on Friday played down diplomatic differences with neighbouring Turkey, calling their current disagreement over Syria "quite natural."

The differences between the two states were exposed after last week's visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran where the crisis in Syria was discussed.

Iran has strongly backed President Bashar al-Assad but Turkey has called on him to step down and condemned his crackdown on opposition rebels.

The differences led to Tehran questioning Istanbul as the venue for the next round of nuclear talks scheduled to be held on April 13 between Iran and six world powers.

Iranian officials instead proposed Damascus or Baghdad as venues for the talks.

In response, Erdogan was quoted Friday in the Turkish press saying that Damascus and Baghdad were unrealistic venues, and warned Tehran against losing its international prestige.

"The Turkish prime minister was in Tehran last week and held positive and constructive talks," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a statement in Tehran.

"Political differences over certain regional issues are quite natural but they can be settled through diplomatic contacts and exchange of opinions," the spokesman added.