Turkey will not lose Iran’s friendship at any price: Turkish ambassador

TEHRAN, April 8 (MNA) – Turkish Ambassador to Iran Umit Yardim said that Ankara will not lose Tehran’s friendship at any price. Yardim said that the recent trip of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran sent the message that Iran is very important to Turkey. Commenting on Erdogan’s remarks, Yardim said that Iran and Turkey, as great neighbors, have had close cooperation in various spheres. He added that the two countries’ officials are making every effort to continue this cooperation. Yardim said Turkey is certain that Tehran’s nuclear program does not contain a military dimension, particularly in light of the Supreme Leader’s fatwa against nuclear weapons. Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a fatwa declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (prohibited in Islam). On Turkey’s stance toward the issue of talks between the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China – plus Germany), Yardim said that if Istanbul is the host for the talks, it will remain only a host and would not adopt any stance in this regard. He also expressed hope that the negotiations would be fruitful. Turkey respects whatever the sides decide about venue of talks Asked about the venue for nuclear talks between Tehran and the 5+1 group, he said given the remarks of the two sides, the venue for the talks has become of great importance. However, he added Turkey is seeking to promote interaction through its decision to host the negotiations, and if the two sides decide not to hold talks in Istanbul, Turkey will respect their decision.