Tehran: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday underscored the need to boost cooperation between Trkiye and Iran in trade, energy, and regional security, speaking to reporters in the capital Tehran on a working visit to the country. 'Trade and energy are top priorities, and we saw again today there is much more to be done,' Fidan said alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, noting the countries' long-standing coordination.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan mentioned that both nations have agreed to improve border efficiency, increase the number of border gates, and implement logistics and transportation projects. During his fourth visit to Tehran as foreign minister, Fidan emphasized the importance of making trade more efficient between the two countries, which already have large populations and high trade volumes.
The officials also addressed the issue of irregular migration, particularly from Afghanistan. Fidan stressed the need for concrete cooperation with Iran in tackling this challenge. He expressed support for Iran's plan to open a new consulate in the eastern Turkish province of Van and pledged to attend the opening ceremony if his Iranian counterpart is also present.
In addition, the two foreign ministers agreed to convene the ninth Trkiye-Iran High-Level Cooperation Council meeting at the presidential level soon. On matters of regional security, Fidan highlighted that both Trkiye and Iran view Israel as the biggest threat to stability in the Middle East, citing concerns over regions such as Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as broader Israeli policies.
Fidan called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and reaffirmed Ankara's support for Tehran in the ongoing nuclear negotiations, advocating for the lifting of what he described as 'unrighteous' sanctions. He urged Iran to resolve its issues based on international law and reiterated Trkiye's commitment to supporting peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also noted on NSosyal that, as part of his visit, Fidan met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly.