In their telephone conversation, the presidents of Iran and Turkey discussed bilateral and regional relations and stressed the need to strengthen the level of cooperation and coordination between Tehran and Ankara, according to the official website of the Iranian presidency.

In the phone call, Ayatollah Raisi referred to the capacity to develop Tehran-Ankara relations and cooperation at bilateral and regional levels, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a long-term and comprehensive vision in relations and cooperation with Turkey and we welcome planning for strategic cooperation with Turkey.”

President Raisi stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries as the only way to lasting security and stability in different parts of the region.

President Erdogan, for his part, expressed interest to visit Tehran soon, stating that Turkey has prepared a list of various economic cooperation to strengthen relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Emphasizing the continuation of Turkey’s energy supply by Iran, the Turkish president said, “Turkey considers Iran a reliable supplier of energy and seeks to increase the level of its cooperation with Tehran.”

Referring to Ayatollah Raisi’s visit to Moscow and meeting with President Putin, Erdogan expressed hope that the results and useful achievements of this visit will soon be felt in various regions, and stressed his country’s cooperation with Iran for achieving regional security.

Raisi and Erdogan met in late November during the former’s visit to Turkmenistan. During that meeting, Raisi said, “Iran and Turkey can bring economic and political relations closer to the strategic level by improving the current level of trade and exchanges.”

Referring to the wide and diverse areas of cooperation between Iran and Turkey in various sectors, including energy, banking and monetary issues, and trade and commerce exchanges, Raisi said, “We should facilitate the development of economic relations and in this regard, preferential tariffs can be reviewed.”

Emphasizing the close cooperation and relations between Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the president said, “The three countries have many cultural, religious and ideological commonalities, and these relations should not be allowed to be disrupted, but should be as close as possible to disappoint our common enemies.”

“Terrorist groups not only cause insecurity in Afghanistan but also threaten the security of the region, so we should not allow terrorist groups such as Daesh and the PKK to threaten the security of countries in the region,” he said.

The president added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran supports formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and we believe that all groups and ethnicities in Afghanistan should have a role and participation in the future of Afghanistan.”

Insisting on the need to stabilize and create security in Syria, Ayatollah Raisi said, “We should use our capacities to create peace and security in Syria.”

He added, “The problems of the region must be resolved by the countries of the region, and the presence and intervention of outsiders not only will not help solve the problems, but will complicate the situation.”

President Raisi also stressed the importance of stability, peace and respect for the territorial integrity of Iraq, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran supports and emphasizes the establishment of a strong government accepted by the Iraqi people.”

During the meeting, the Turkish leader also said that his country considers it necessary to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation with Iran.

“We can make a leap in the relations between the two countries, especially in the economic sectors,” he said.

Erdogan also said, “The White House is training and arming all terrorist groups in the region, including Daesh and the PKK, and providing them with terrorist equipment and tools to create insecurity.”

He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and Turkey can maintain security and stability in the region with the cooperation of other countries in the region.”

In mid-November of last year, Raisi met in Tehran with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Çavusoglu. During this meeting, Raisi said, “By finalizing the roadmap for development of cooperation, the draft of which is on the agenda of the two countries, Iran and Turkey are ready to upgrade relations from the current level to all-inclusive cooperation.”

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Mr. Saadat said that the trade volume between Iran and Turkey experienced a significant slump in 2020, adding that in 2020 Iran’s trade with Turkey hit $4.254b as Iran’s exports to Turkey were $2b while in the past both countries had experienced a $15b trade volume.

He noted several factors have been effective in the slump of the trade between the two states that the outbreak of the COVID-19 and maximum pressure of the sanctions have been among the most important problems regarding their trade, and for this reason, Iran’s exports to Turkey were less than imports last year.

Sadaat went on to say that the studies of the chamber showed that considering the export advantages to Turkey, the capacity for $15b trade exits in case the condition improves.

He noted that the chamber is after drawing up a road map for improving trade exchange between Iran and Turkey, adding that in this regard, the chamber raised the issue of trade ethics between the two states and set some criteria for it because boosting the trade volume and its materialization needs the problems to be resolved from their roots.

He said early studies showed that most of problems in trade between the two countries are stemmed from the trade ethics which should be set in a way that they can resolve the problems of the businessmen.

Sadaat added that the $30b trade is of the main goals of the chamber and this figure is not a far-fetched target because in the past, both countries have experienced the bilateral trade of $21b.

He noted that enhancing the trade needs improvement of infrastructures, adding that the chamber is after preparing the trade infrastructures in order not to face any problem in case of increasing trade between Iran and Turkey.

He said some Turkish companies are interested in investment in Iran and if the trend of sanctions is changed and the sanctions are lifted or reduced, both countries can take advantage of it.

Sadaat stated that for arrival of Iranian businessmen into Turkey’s market, the chamber is on the eve of opening a permanent fair in Turkey, noting that the chamber has succeeded in taking the project into the executive stage wherein with the launch of the permanent fair in Turkey, Iranians can present their products in Turkey.

He said the exhibition can serve Iranian tradesmen, adding that presenting and introducing Iranian goods to Turkish businessmen for enhancing bilateral trade is of the other activities of this fair. He said this fair can help those companies which are unable to attend in Turkey market by itself.

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The deputy minister of industry, mine and trade went on to say that Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes investment of Turkish companies in the country and throws its weight behind investment of Iranian firms, especially knowledge-based firms, in Turkey.

In response to a question on the obstacles facing investment of Turkish companies in Iran, he added, “Turkish companies made relatively good investment in Iran over the past decade; as many as 100 Turkish mid- and large-sized industrial companies invested in various projects of the country, especially in Azarbaijan and Aras.”

The deputy industry minister pointed to the US sanctions imposed on Iran and added, “Turkish government has announced officially that his country will not comply with US sanctions on Iran and does not accept the replacement of Iran’s oil and gas energy with other countries’.”

Under such circumstances, it is hoped that bilateral ties between Iran and Turkey will experience a significant rise, he added.

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The country’s imports from Turkey stood at $1.39 billion in the seven-month period, also registering a decline of 7.09% year on year.

Iran was Turkey’s 19th biggest export destination and the 11th biggest exporter of goods to the country during the period.

Iran’s exports to Turkey in July amounted to $102.76 million, down 85.89% while imports from the neighbor during the month fell to $218.98 million (or 14.48%) compared with the similar span of last year.

Senior officials from Iran and Turkey’s economic sectors met on Tuesday as a committee to follow up on the preferential trade agreement reached between the two countries.

In the meeting, the acting head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), Hamid Zadboum, mentioned the two countries’ great potentials for economic cooperation and called on the two sides to take necessary measures for increasing the two countries’ trade turnover.

“In the past five years, the volume of trade between Iran and Turkey has exceeded $53 billion, and considering the determination of the two countries’ presidents, the figure should increase to $150 billion over the next five years,” Zadboum said.

The official mentioned the preferential trade agreement between the two countries which has been operational since 2015 and said “We hope that with the support of the governments of the two countries, the agreement would continue in the best way for both sides and it would pave the way for further expansion of trade ties,”

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He described the recently established Judiciary joint commission between Iran and Turkey as a positive step in this regard.

The joint commission is aimed at deciding over the conditions of prisoner swaps between the two countries.

Embarking on the mission, the two countries exchanged three convicts on in late July.

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Turkish president also reiterated that the US sanctions against Iran don’t help restoration of regional peace and stability.

Elsewhere in his address, Erdogan said that Turkey’s counter-terrorism offensives will move forward to a “different phase” in northern Syria soon.

“We’ll move the process which we started with the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations [in northern Syria] forward to a different phase very soon,” Anadolu quoted Erdogan as saying.

“If needed, Turkey will absolutely protect its national interests [in Syria] either via dialogue, soft power, coercive diplomacy instruments or realpolitik,” he stressed.

Erdogan went on to say that country’s procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defense system was a “commercial” rather and “strategic” move, and criticized the US and EU for their biased reactions as they did not give the same response to the NATO members that previously bought S-300 system.

The attitude of Turkey’s allies forced Turkish administration to buy Russian defense system, he added.

Although Turkey wanted to buy US Patriot missile system earlier, Washington did not respond positively when they were needed the most, according to Turkish officials, therefore Ankara initiated talks with Russia over purchase of Russian S-400 defense system.

Since 2017, Turkey and the US have been at odds over Turkey’s decision to buy the S-400 and the U.S. threats to break its contract to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets over the dispute.

The US claims the S-400 will be incompatible with NATO systems, an argument Turkey disputes.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that it is up to Turkey to make its own decisions on weapons systems purchases.

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Khoy governor said that in the meetings with the Turkish side over the past two days, they had discussed and reached good mutual understandings of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime, the fight against the trafficking of goods, livestock and narcotics, and the prevention of illegal immigration at the borders and the development of livelihood of people living on each side of the borders.

Abedi also said that developing border trade in line with directions of the two countries’ high-ranking officials were among decisions made at these meetings.

Mehmet Emin Bilmez, for his part, was positive about the results of the meetings with the Iranian side, saying that there are good relations between Van and Khoy.

The Van governor also said in the meetings the two sides had reached very good agreements to fight against terrorist groups and smuggling of goods and human trafficking.

Furthermore, on the sidelines of the meeting, the Iranian consulate general to Erzurum Soltanzadeh attached great importance to the security sub-committee, saying that forming such sub-committees can further develop relations between border provinces of the two countries.

The Turkish delegations also visited museums in Khoy during the two-day visit to Iran.

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“During the Turkish-Iranian High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting, held four months ago in Ankara, the Presidents of the two countries ordered ministers to develop all-out ties and under the framework of our duties we pursue joint interests as well as mutual cooperation and confidence,” Turan said.

Calling the held meeting the most comprehensive and important mutual meeting between Iran and Turkey in transportation sector, he added that the two sides are determined to reach the set annual $30-billion-trade transactions.

As the Turkish minister informed, during the meeting the two sides have signed an MOU, and important decisions have been made in sectors of road railway, marine, and air transportation as well.

Turan also underlined the role that Iran and Turkey play in the region and the significance of their cooperation, which would guarantee interests of both sides and the region, as well.

The Turkish minister added that Turkey and Iran can cat as a bridge to connect Europe to west Asia, and related bilateral negotiations for development of new transportation ways are underway.

The Iranian minister, for his turn, named four pivotal points of the talks and agreements between Iran and Turkey during the held two-day meeting as expansion of transit ties between West Asia and Europe, establishing Tehran-Ankara railway, following up measures for implementing the trilateral Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul agreement, and launching a new railway for developing mutual transit between Iran and Turkey.

“This meeting is held after seven years in this period of time and also after four months after HLCC meeting,” Eslami said, “It reveals the message of the two countries’ officials for development of mutual cooperation and reaching the targeted $30 billion trade transactions.”

As he further explained, worthy agreements have also been signed on modifying the working hours of the offices at mutual borders and also shortening the long queues of trucks at the joint borders to facilitate mutual transit at Bazargan and other borders.

In his remarks, Eslami thanked the Turkish government for their dispatched aid to flood-stricken regions of Iran as well as its political stance against the US unilateralistic policies about Iran.

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Late Tuesday upon arrival in Ankara after having a one-day visit to Syria and holding talks with the country’s high-ranking officials in Damascus, Zarif said that the aim of his visit to Turkey is to confer on regional developments as well as ways to expand bilateral ties.

Zarif went on to say that during his visit to Turkey, he will discuss with Turkish officials regional developments, especially those in Syria and North Africa.

Pointing to the recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Turkey and the signed agreements between the two sides, he noted that he will further discuss bilateral politico-economic relations with Turkish officials.

The Iranian top diplomat is slated to hold meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Zarif started a trip to Syria and Turkey on Tuesday as part of Tehran’s regular political talks with Damascus and Ankara.

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