Iran-Turkey Keen To Expand Ties

Ankara, Oct 6, IRNA – Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said Iran and Turkey are two countries with ancient culture and civilization and consensus between two countries in international arena has always been influential and in line with common interests. Rahimi, who is on a visit to Turkey at the head of high-ranking Iranian delegation, made the above remarks in a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday night. He described the Iran-Turkey relations as cordial and on the right path of improving. “The volume of trade between two countries has exceeded $16.5 billion during March 23-September 23. This is while the same figure was about five billion dollars before that period. We hope that this figure will hit $30 billion soon,” Rahimi added. Referring to the upward trend of trade ties between Iran and Turkey as a sign of reciprocal interest by two countries for expansion of ties, Rahimi noted that Islamic Republic of Iran supports Turkey’s stance toward Iran’s nuclear program. He pointed out that the economic and trade ties between Iran and Turkey is in line with common interests of both countries. Pointing to the fact that Iran has always respected Turkey, Rahimi stated that there are potentials for swift trade transactions between two countries and both countries want to remain committed to such process. “Although both Iran and Turkey have different opinions in some political areas, we consider this as a family issue,” he added. Rahimi pointed out that improvement of economic and trade ties between Iran and Turkey is in line with two countries’ common interests./end