Iran, Turkmenistan Move to Broaden Economic Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ranking officials from Iran and Turkmenistan weighed plans to strengthen the economic relations between the two neighbors and carry out the previous bilateral agreements.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari held meetings with a number of high-ranking Turkmen authorities during a visit to Ashgabat.
He has traveled to Turkmenistan to follow up on the agreements signed by the two countries during a visit that the Turkmen president paid to Tehran in June.
In a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow, Safari explained Iran’s economic possibilities and capabilities. He underlined the need for expansion of economic and trade ties with Turkmenistan and said Iran is ready to give Turkmenistan access to high seas through southern Iranian ports like Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.
He also noted that it is possible to increase cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat in the oil and gas industries, including the transit of energy carriers from Turkmenistan to neighboring countries through Iranian soil.
Safari also held separate meetings with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Water Diplomacy Annageldi Yazmyradov, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers Responsible for Construction and Energy Carymyrat Purcekow, and Deputy Chief of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers for Oil and Gas Shahym Abdrahamov.