Hakan Fidan: Turkey has always stood by Iran
During the visit of Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, to Tehran, he and Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasized the development of bilateral relations and regional cooperation in a joint press conference.
Hakan Fidan stated in the meeting: Turkey has always been alongside Iran on the nuclear issue and hopes that the unjust sanctions against Iran will be lifted. He added that Iran should be integrated into the global economy and international community, and these unfair sanctions must be removed. The Turkish Foreign Minister also stressed the need to increase border crossings, cooperate in the fields of energy and electricity, and combat illegal migration. He said that Turkey and Iran are two powerful countries in the region and that Israel’s expansionist policies in Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza must be stopped through international efforts. Fidan also spoke about the importance of peace between Russia and Ukraine, declaring that Turkey supports peace processes.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi also stated in the meeting: Iran and Turkey are not merely neighbors, but two friendly and brotherly nations with deep historical, religious, and cultural ties. He said that the borders of the two countries have been borders of peace and friendship for centuries, and this year has been designated as the “Iran–Turkey Cultural Year.” Araghchi emphasized the need to remove obstacles to trade and investment between the two countries and added that Iran is one of the most reliable energy suppliers for Turkey, announcing readiness to extend the gas contract and expand cooperation in the electricity sector.
The Iranian Foreign Minister also referred to the connection of the two countries’ railways in the “Cheshm-e Soraya–Aralik” region, expressing hope that construction of this line would begin as soon as possible. He announced the opening of Iran’s Consulate General in the city of Van, adding that this step would create new capacity for bilateral relations. In another part of his remarks, Araghchi addressed regional issues, saying that the Palestinian question and the need for joint cooperation to stop the massacre of the people of Gaza were among the most important topics of today’s negotiations. He also stressed the necessity of countering Israeli aggressions in Syria and Lebanon, and stated that Iran’s position is to preserve stability and security in the Caucasus through cooperation among regional countries and avoiding extra-regional interventions.
In this meeting, both ministers underlined the importance of holding the 9th High-Level Cooperation Council between Iran and Turkey in Tehran. Fidan said that the meetings between delegations and bilateral talks were fruitful and that there is great capacity for cooperation. He added that Iran and Turkey face similar challenges regarding irregular migration, and this issue is important for both countries.
At the end of his visit, Hakan Fidan announced that he would also meet with the Speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani, and President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing hope that these meetings would lead to further enhancement of cooperation between the two countries.
