Turkey’s ambassador to Tehran reiterated his government’s opposition to the unilateral US sanctions against Iran, saying Ankara is expecting a visit of a US delegation that would present new demands regarding economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on the second anniversary of a 2016 failed coup in Turkey, Reza Hakan Tekin said Turkey’s policy on the US plan to tighten sanctions against Iran is “quite clear”. He said “We deem unilateral sanctions neither legitimate nor useful”, Tasnim News Agency reported.
The envoy said his country has not received any message or request from the US on how to deal with Iran, adding that Ankara will soon host a delegation from the US to see what they have to say.
While Washington has said it wants to mount pressure on Tehran in all economic sectors, it has contradictory policies on economic sanctions against Tehran, Hakan Tekin said.
“For instance, they (the US) once said they would drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero, but announced a few days later that they could give exemptions. We are waiting for the US official demand,” the diplomat added.
Reuters reported on July 10 that the United States will consider requests from some countries to be exempted from sanctions it will put in effect in November to prevent Iran from exporting oil, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
“There will be a handful of countries that come to the United States and ask for relief from that. We’ll consider it,” Pompeo said. He did not name any countries.
When it comes to sanctions, Turkey has a very clear background and has stood with the Iranian people, the Turkish envoy said, adding that his country does not regard Iran as an ordinary country like others, as the two neighbors share common interests in economic, political, defense and security spheres.
Hakan Tekin commended Iran for its supportive stance towards his government in the early hours of the attempted coup that rocked Turkey in July 2016, saying that Ian never allowed the banned Gulen organization, deemed by Turkey to be behind the coup, to have any activity in Iran.
$30 Billion Target
His remarks came after Iran’s Ambassador to Ankara Ebrahim Taherian Fard said Tehran and Ankara are eager to boost trade ties up to $30 billion.
“Iran plans to have a trade volume of $30 billion with Turkey,” Taherian Fard said in a meeting with members of Izmir Chamber of Commerce in the Turkish city last week.
The ambassador reiterated that Iran and Turkey have 600 kilometers of common borders and three official customs crossing points, which should be used to expand trade.
“Currently trade exchange between the two countries is around $12 billion, which can be increased three folded with the help of the private sectors,” Taherian Fard added.
He reiterated that the private sector in Turkey is strong and well-experienced, and “Iran is trying to develop its private sector.”
