Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu meets with his Iranian counterpart in Ankara

Cavusoğlu hailed the visit by his Iranian counterpart and the expression of sympathy by him and the Iranian government and people, thanking Iran for the swift delivery of relief services and aid supplies to the quake-stricken people in Turkey in the early hours of the natural disaster.

The expression of sympathy and aid delivery showed Iran is also a good brother to Turkey besides being a good friend and neighbor, he added.

For his part, Amirabdollahian once again offered the Islamic Republic of Iran’s condolences and sympathy with the Turkish government and people over the losses of lives in the recent quake.

Amirabdollahian said as soon as the news of the quake in Syria and Türkiye emerged, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi laid serious emphasis on delivering aid and relief services to the quake-stricken people, and that the entire Iranian nation and government became one with the friendly and brotherly nation of Turkey.

Considering the fact that two countries are situated in a quake-prone region, cooperation and exchanges of knowledge and experience between the relevant scientific centers of the two countries will be useful, the top Iranian diplomat said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister added that specialized institutions in the field of seismology, structural science and engineering can exchange visits to that effect.

The two sides also discussed the need to expand bilateral relations as much as possible. They also evaluated the two countries’ joint cooperation in the fight against terrorism and terrorist groups as important and effective.

They exchanged views on the activation of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, facilitation of transit and transportation, energy, border markets and facilitation of cross-border trade as important issues for the expansion of commercial and economic relations.

The two ministers held talks on the activation of the joint committee for water and environment cooperation as well as enhancement of parliamentary ties.

The two top diplomats also discussed regional issues, including Syria, Afghanistan, the Caucasus region, as well as international topics. (ILKHA)