Iran Says Seeking Long-term Cooperation with Turkey

Iran

June 28th, 6:36am

Ankara - Saeed Abdulrazek

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 27 June 2022. (EPA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced that efforts are underway to draft a document on long-term comprehensive cooperation between his country and Turkey. He made his remarks ahead of talks in Ankara on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. The officials discussed cooperation between their countries and ways to bolster them in various fields. They also tackled regional and international developments of interest, including the latest in the Iran nuclear deal negotiations. The negotiations are set to resume in Doha on Tuesday. They also covered the Syrian crisis and the war on Ukraine. Diplomatic sources said Abdollahian and Cavusoglu discussed the tensions between Israel and Iran after the former had warned its citizens against travel to Istanbul at the risk of being targeted by Iranian agents. Cavusoglu said: “We must continue to work together because terrorism is our common enemy.” Abdollahian stated that his country is aware of Turkey’s security concerns, adding that Iran and Turkey’s security were indivisible. “We want nothing but good for the region and Turkey,” he stressed. He added that he agreed with Cavusoglu to set a roadmap to develop bilateral ties between Tehran and Ankara. Abdollahian later held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. They stressed the importance of bolstering bilateral ties through “comprehensive and sustainable cooperation and boosting consultations over regional and international issues of interest.” During a visit to Turkey last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid thanked authorities for foiling attacks against Israeli citizens in Istanbul. Turkey announced the arrest of a cell, comprised of five Iranians and two Turks, that was planning to attack the former Israeli ambassador, his wife and other Israelis. Standing next to Lapid, Cavusoglu said Turkey “cannot permit these kinds of incidents taking place in our country.” “We have delivered the necessary messages,” he said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3728281/iran-says-seeking-long-term-cooperation-turkey