Turkey Eager to Enhance Ties with Iran


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Turkish president voiced his country’s willingness to expand relations with Iran, particularly in economic spheres.

“Development of ties with Iran is of strategic significance for Turkey,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a meeting with Iranian president’s chief of staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, on Friday.

Stressing the need for efforts to promote cooperation between the two neighbors and support the economic activists of the two sides, Erdogan said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s upcoming trip to Turkey and holding of the fifth round of Iran-Turkey high council of strategic cooperation would provide a good opportunity for stronger ties.

For his part, Vaezi said Iran is ready to boost the relations with Turkey, which he hailed as a friend, brother and neighbor of the Islamic Republic.

“We see no limits and restrictions on the path to the enhancement of ties with Turkey in various sectors, particularly trade and economic interaction,” the Iranian official said.

He also urged efforts to accelerate the implementation of the agreements the two counties have signed in the past.

Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, Vaezi traveled to Turkey on Thursday to hold meetings with top Turkish authorities.

Iran and Turkey have ramped up efforts in recent years to boost bilateral trade, setting a $30-billion annual trade target and signing several agreements to enhance cooperation in various areas.

Turkey is one of Iran’s major trading partners in the region.