Turkey Hails Iran’s Envoy for Strong, Constructive Activities

Turkey Hails Iran’s Envoy for Strong, Constructive Activities

TEHRAN (FNA)- Mayor of Turkey’s Northwestern city of Istanbul Kadir Topbas praised the activities of Iranian Consul-General in Istanbul Mahmoud Heidari, and called for the expansion of bilateral ties between the two friendly countries in all arenas.

The issue was raised in the farewell ceremony of Herdari at the end of his diplomatic tenure in Istanbul as Iran’s consul-general on Friday.

During the meeting, Topbas appreciated outgoing Iranian diplomat’s efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between two Muslim nations, and hoped for expansion of mutual cooperation between the two states.

Iran and Turkey have in recent years increased their cooperation in all the various fields of economy, security, trade, education, energy and culture.

Turkey’s crude imports from Iran leapt in March to 1.17 million tons, rejecting the speculations that Ankara has bowed to US pressures to curb oil trades with Tehran.

The data was announced by Turkey’s census institute. The center reported that the country’s oil imports from Iran have hit a record in the 8 months before March.

This is while the Turkish government had earlier promised the US that it would implement a maximum 20% decrease in oil imports from Iran to cooperate with Washington in imposing unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Meantime, Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz had earlier said that Ankara is resolved to continue oil imports from Iran despite the sanctions imposed on Iranian oil by the US and the European Union.

The Turkish minister said in February that his country is only committed to the decisions made by the United Nations in this regard.

The two sides have exchanged several politico-economic delegations during the last few months.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul in a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in February underlined the need for the removal of obstacles to the further expansion of bilateral economic ties with Iran in a bid to boost trade cooperation between the two countries.

“The level of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries does not suit the age-old ties of the two nations and we should remove the obstacles to the development of mutual cooperation between Iran and Turkey,” Gul said at the time.

via Fars News Agency :: Turkey Hails Iran’s Envoy for Strong, Constructive Activities.