Iran keen to expand ties with Turkmenistan, Cuba: Iranian FM

TEHRAN,May 7(MNA) – The Iranian foreign minister on Monday described political relations with Turkmenistan as very close, saying that Tehran was seeking to expand ties in energy and transportation sectors with Ashgabat. Ali Akbar Salehi made the remarks during a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov in Tehran, in which the two officials discussed bilateral and international issues. “Tehran is Ashgabat’s second major business partner,” Salehi said, adding that consultations on regional and international issues between the two countries were necessary. Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi commented on a number of regional developments, including the Syrian crisis, and condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Syria, saying that Israel had “played with fire” by doing so. Meredov, conveying warm greetings of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, said that his visit to Tehran showed the friendly ties between the two countries. Iran calls for closer ties with Cuba In a separate meeting with a Cuban deputy foreign minister on Monday, Salehi called for the expansion of ties with Havana in various areas. He also said that Iran could hold effective consultations with Cuba on various issues as the Latin American country is one of the founders and member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Cuban official hailed Iran’s constructive measures to help resolve regional crises as the president of NAM, emphasizing that Cuba would support the Islamic Republic’s stance within the framework of NAM.