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Turkey Denies Receiving Warning From US Over Israel, Iran Stance


Turkish officials are denying reports that U.S. President Barack Obama warned Turkey that its diplomatic stance on Israel and Iran could affect U.S. arms sales to Ankara.

Turkish media reported Wednesday that foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said no country can issue warnings to Turkey.

The British newspaper Financial Times Sunday quoted an anonymous U.S. official as saying Mr. Obama had personally warned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two leaders met at the G-20 summit in late June.

A White House spokesman denied the report Monday saying he did not know where the statement originated.

Deputy press secretary Bill Burton said the two leaders have spoken about Iran and the recent Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

Turkey says the two countries have strong ties.

Top Turkish officials will visit Washington D.C. next week to hold talks on issues in the Middle East - including Israel and Iran.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been strained by Turkey's repeated criticism of Israeli policies, and plummeted after Israeli marines killed nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists aboard an aid ship bound for Gaza in May.

Turkey, along with Brazil, also has tried to resolve the international impasse over Iran's nuclear program.

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