Iran, Turkey Eager to Be Closer Partners


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers in a meeting in the Chinese capital Beijing expressed enthusiasm for strengthening bilateral ties.

Iran’s top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held a meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the fourth round of "Istanbul Process" conference on Afghanistan, held in China’s capital.

Inaugurated in 2011, the Istanbul Process is the only Afghanistan-related cooperation mechanism led by regional countries.

During the meeting, Zarif emphasized the necessity for diplomatic interaction between the two Muslim neighbors in order to enhance economic relations. He also invited Cavusoglu to visit Tehran.

Cavusoglu, for his part, touched on the “good and friendly” ties between Tehran and Ankara, and called for a rise in their cooperation given the existing potential.

On the nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers, the Turkish minister said he was happy to see the negotiations moving in the course of progress.

Iran and the sextet of world powers (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are in talks to hammer out a final deal to end a decade of impasse over Tehran’s civilian nuclear work.