Leader Hails Iran’s Neighbors First Policy

Date: 15 June 2022 - 21:49

News ID: ۱۰۳۷۳۹

TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday hailed the Iranian administration’s policy of expanding relations with neighbors as a good policy as Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow called on him for a meeting during his first visit to the Islamic Republic.

“The policy of the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to expand relations with neighboring countries, and this is a completely sound policy,” the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei said a strong will is required on both sides to remove obstacles on the way of further expansion of bilateral ties, adding it will benefit both nations.

“Of course, friendly relations between Iran and Turkmenistan have regional and international opponents, but nevertheless, the obstacles must be overcome,” the Leader said.

He said a joint cooperation commission needs to be activated to finalize bilateral agreements through continuous follow-ups.

Berdimuhamedow, for his part, said his administration’s focus is also on developing ties with neighbors.

Turkmenistan, he said, is willing to strengthen good relations between Turkmenistan and Iran in various fields, especially gas, electricity, and transportation of goods and implement major projects between the two countries.

Referring to the 30th anniversary of Tehran-Ashgabat relations, the Turkmen president thanked Ayatollah Khamenei for his support for deepening Iran’s ties with Turkmenistan.

Earlier in the day, the two sides signed a raft of documents and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to broaden bilateral cooperation in different fields in a ceremony presided by the Turkmen president and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi.

Nine MoUs were signed in the fields of politics, economy, trade, transportation, investment, new technologies, environment, sports, energy, judiciary, education, research, and tourism.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkmen counterpart, President Raisi said Tehran and Ashgabat are determined to sign a strategic document on cooperation for 20 years.

“The relations between the two countries are brotherly, civilizational, cultural and, in a word, very close. These deep relations between the two nations and the two countries can pave the way for many collaborations.”

He also described the new Turkmen president’s visit to Iran as a turning point in relations between the two countries.

“In the fields of economy, trade,

water, electricity and gas, there are good capacities and areas in the two countries to expand cooperation beyond the current level. The agreements and memoranda of understanding signed today between the two countries can enhance bilateral cooperation to a higher level,” he said.

“In the negotiations, it became clear that the two countries have a serious will to develop relations and implement the agreements reached. More importantly, the two sides are determined to sign a strategic document of 20 years of cooperation.”

He further described cooperation with the Caspian Sea littoral countries as one of the foreign policy priorities of Iran, saying cooperation between the two countries will surely lead to regional and international convergence.

Moreover, Iran and Turkmenistan have very close opinions about Afghanistan.

“We believe that a comprehensive government should be formed in Afghanistan that represents all political and ethnic groups, and this can create security for Afghanistan,” he said.

Raisi said the two countries share the view that the problems and issues of the region should be resolved by the countries of the region and any foreign presence in the region can be problematic.

“Our common belief is that the presence of outsiders is not a security-building factor but creates problems,” he stated.

For his part, Berdimuhamedow said talks between Turkmenistan and Iran were successful.

“The talks were held in an atmosphere of transparency, trust and mutual respect between the two countries, which painted a picture of fraternal relations between the two countries,” he said.

Berdimuhamedow said energy and transportation are amongst the important and strategic sectors of relations between Tehran and Ashgabat.

“We will focus our efforts to effectively use these potentials to expand interactions between the two countries,” he said.

The two countries are also determined to develop cultural and humanitarian relations as one of the important sectors to strengthen bonds between the two nations, he added.

Berdimuhamedow said both Tehran and Ashgabat want Afghanistan to become a prosperous nation that participates in important international and regional projects.

He touched on the signing of several cooperation documents between the two countries, saying they will further help to strengthen relations between the two countries.