Iran and Turkey are working to reach a target of $30 billion in bilateral trade, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said on Wednesday, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
His remarks followed a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his visit to Tehran for the 29th Turkish-Iranian Economic Cooperation Commission.
Bolat pointed to plans to modernize border crossings and establish two additional crossings to streamline customs operations and boost trade. He also stressed the importance of revitalizing a preferential trade agreement from 2015 and concluding a comprehensive tourism pact between the two nations.
Iranian President Pezeshkian stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the Islamic countries, emphasizing the benefits of increased cooperation in trade, transportation and resource sharing.
Bolat said relations between Turkey and Iran have been strengthened in economy and trade within the framework of the High-Level Cooperation Council, which is chaired by the presidents of both countries. He explained the initiatives discussed during the commission meeting, including cooperation in such areas as trade, energy, health, agriculture and urbanization.
The minister expressed confidence that with determined efforts, the two countries can achieve the trade target of $30 billion and emphasized the potential of cooperation to open up new opportunities in various sectors.
This development coincides with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hinting on Wednesday that Turkey was behind the regime change in Syria, along with explicit mentions of the United States and Israel.
A government in a neighboring country of Syria has played and is still playing a clear role in what’s happening. However, the primary conspirators and control room are in the United States and the Zionist regime. We have evidence of this that leaves no room for doubt for anyone.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 11, 2024
“A government in a neighboring country of Syria has played and is still playing a clear role in what’s happening. However, the primary conspirators and control room are in the United States and the Zionist regime. We have evidence of this that leaves no room for doubt for anyone,” Khamenei wrote on X.
With Turkey’s tacit approval, Islamist-led rebels toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad in an 11-day offensive that began on November 29. Assad fled to Moscow, where he was granted asylum by Russia.
The pro-reform President Pezeshkian took office after winning elections that followed the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative, in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and six others.
Observers say that Iranian hardliners as well as proxies in the Middle East blame Pezeshkian’s reformist politics and dovish stance for the fall of Assad.