Iran, Turkey Discuss Closer Cooperation

Date: 15 March 2015 - 21:30

News ID: ۱۲۱۱۵

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri on Sunday underlined that closer ties between Tehran and Ankara can play a major role in resolving the problems facing the region.
"Expansion of cooperation between Iran and Turkey is a step toward resolving the Muslim world’s issues which can thwart the Zionists' plot to spread Islamophobia in the world," Jahangiri said in a meeting with Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz here.
He also pointed to historical bonds and commonalities between the two neighbors, saying Iran sees no limits to promotion of relations with Turkey in any field.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Jahangiri stressed the need for enhancing bilateral trade relations, saying Tehran is willing to remove obstacles on the way of joint cooperation in various spheres, including energy as well as transportation.
Yilmaz, for his part, described expansion of Tehran-Ankara ties as "vital" for the establishment of peace in the region, saying the two neighbors' relations can serve the interests of regional nations.
Jahangiri also announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official trip to Tehran in the near future.
"I hope that during the trip, a major part of obstacles facing trade relations between the two countries will be removed,” Jahangiri said in.
Iran and Turkey have plans to hike up the volume of their trade exchange to $30 billion by 2015.
Iran, which owns the world’s largest natural gas reserves, is Turkey’s second biggest gas supplier after Russia. Turkey uses a significant portion of its imported Iranian natural gas to generate electricity.
Turkish exports to Iran are mainly machinery, motor vehicles, iron and steel products, boilers, electric devices, tobacco products. Crude oil and natural gas dominate Iranian exports to Turkey with 90%.