Iran's foreign minister on Monday backed Syrian sovereignty and opposed military action in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, state media said, after a US pull-back of troops in northeast Syria appeared to open the way to a Turkish attack.

"(Mohammad Javad) Zarif, opposed military action and emphasized respect for Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty and the need to fight terrorism and bring stability and security to Syria," state broadcaster IRIB said, about the phone call with Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu.

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