Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday said the major developments “emanating from the general Islamic awakening” is the real cause of anxiety of hostile powers.
In a meeting with the visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran, the Leader said “Today the Americans and Zionists are happy about the internal discord in some Islamic states. A practical solution to these problems depends on cooperation among Muslim states along with appropriate, practical and constructive measures.”
He referred to the ongoing conflict in Yemen as one example of new problems in the Muslim world. On the ways to help end the crisis in the war-weary Arab country, the Leader said Iran’s “stance vis-à-vis all countries, namely Yemen, is opposition to foreign interference. Thus, from our perspective, the solution to the crisis is that foreign attacks and interference against the people of Yemen must stop.” He stressed that it is up to the Yemenis to decide their own future.
Details of the meeting between the Leader and Erdogan will be published in Financial Tribune of Thursday.
Erdogan Visit Focuses on Trade, Regional Developments
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tehran on Tuesday at the head of a delegation comprising of high ranking Turkish officials. He was officially received by Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mahmoud Vaezi, who serves as the president’s special representative for Turkey affairs, IRNA reported.
He was later received by President Hassan Rouhani at the Sa’dabad cultural-historical complex in northern Tehran.
The Turkish delegation comprises Foreign Minister Mouloud Jawish Ihsanoglu, Economy Minister Nehat Zibakch, Minister of Customs and Trade Nurettin Canikli, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Omer Celik, and Minister of Development, Cevdet Yilmaz. The two sides discussed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and international developments. They also siged several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on transportation, customs, banking and investment.
Strategic High Cooperation Council
The second session of Iran-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council was also set to be held. The body was formed to boost bilateral relations and accelerate implementation of joint ventures. The first session of Iran-Turkey Strategic High Cooperation Council was held in Ankara during President Rouhani’s visit last year.
Prior to Erdogan’s visit to Tehran, Turkish president’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday that Erdogan is set to discuss the latest developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen with the Iranian officials.
“The nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 [five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany] is crucial. Our stance has remained unchanged since the beginning, Turkey always supported the talks,” said Kalin, referring to the provisional nuclear framework reached between Iran and the P5+1 last week. “Trade volume with Iran will increase following a final nuclear agreement which will lift the western embargo over Iran,” Kalin further said.
The visit has been on the cards for some time but some Iranian lawmakers urged the government last week to call it off after Erdogan publicly backed Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes on Yemen, and accused Iran of trying to dominate the Middle East by employing its forces in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
Deepening Economic Ties
The political differences between the two neighbors are unlikely to permanently damage a relationship that is driven by deepening economic ties. Diplomats and analysts believe the long-term impact will be minimal as Turkey needs Iranian gas and serves as an important export market for Tehran.
According to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute, Iran-Turkey trade stood at $13.7 billion in 2014. Iran was reported to be Turkey’s seventh export destination and its eighth importing partner in 2014. Turkey’s exports to Iran accounted for 2.5% of the country’s total exports in 2014, while imports from Iran accounted for 4.1% of Turkey’s total imports in that year.
Iran and Turkey signed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) last year, which is expected to significantly bolster two-way trade. The agreement was signed following the visit by Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci to Tehran in January last year. The Turkish official had announced as the PTA’s goal to “boost trade between the two neighbors to $30 billion by 2015.” The PTA officially came into effect on January 29, 2014 when the then Turkish Prime Minister (now president), Erdogan visited Tehran.
