Iran, Turkey enjoy strategic, sustainable relations: Deputy FM

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran and Turkey have repeatedly emphasized that the duo enjoy sustainable, strategic and firm relations in different spheres.

The recent visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran and his talks with senior Iranian officials bear witness to such strong ties, Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA on Wednesday.

Tehran and Ankara may have different views on certain issues, including Syria, but the two countries’ foreign ministers held many consultations during recent months, which played a very effective role in improving mutual understanding and finding political solutions to various issues.

The Turkish prime minister arrived in Tehran for an official two-day visit on March 28, heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation.

Iran has reportedly asked Iraq to serve as the venue for the new round of comprehensive talks with the P5+1 — Russia, China, Britain, France and the US plus Germany.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that Tehran put forward a proposal calling on Baghdad to host the new round of talks between Iran and the six major powers.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said Baghdad welcomes the idea of hosting Iran-P5+1 talks and asserted that he would carry out the necessary contacts with relevant parties on the proposal.

Iran and the P5+1 have held two rounds of multifaceted talks, one in Geneva in December 2010 and another in the Turkish city of Istanbul in January 2011.

Tehran says it is ready to resume the talks based on common grounds; however, it has repeatedly made it clear that it will not negotiate on any of its nuclear rights.

Iran maintains that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to acquire and develop nuclear technology for peaceful objectives.