The visit follows a pivotal phone conversation on November 26 between President Raisi and his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where the leaders emphasized the historical friendship and shared values between Iran and Türkiye.

During the conversation, President Raisi underscored the importance of expanding cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spectrums. Both leaders expressed optimism about their collaboration serving as a positive model for interactions among Islamic nations, fostering unity and mutual understanding.

The conversation also focused on President Raisi's address to the U.S.'s role in the violence against the people of Gaza. He condemned any potential American intervention in Gaza as a continuation of crimes against Palestinians and highlighted the people of Gaza's right to determine their future.

President Erdogan acknowledged the positive relations between Tehran and Ankara, expressing his commitment to elevating these relations to an exceptional level. The leaders shared their vision for a stronger partnership.

President Erdogan's previous visit to Tehran in July 2023 resulted in fruitful discussions and the signing of eight cooperation documents and memoranda of understanding. The upcoming visit of President Raisi is expected to further strengthen ties and pave the way for increased collaboration between Iran and Turkey.

This visit comes at a crucial time, emphasizing the shared commitment of both nations to address critical challenges within the Muslim world, particularly the Palestinian issue and Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. (ILKHA)