News / Politics

Tehran, Ashgabat can play positive role in regional security: Iran FM

Monday, 17 April 2017 2:25 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 17 April 2017 2:51 PM ]

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (2nd L) and his Turkmen counterpart, Rashid Meredov (2nd R), meet in Ashgabat on April 17, 2017. (Photo by IRNA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic and Turkmenistan can play a positive role in maintaining security in the region.

“Under the current circumstances in the world, Iran and Turkmenistan, as two secure countries in a region affected by extremist and violent moves, can play a favorable role in the provision of regional security,” Zarif said in a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Ashgabat on Monday.

He described as “valuable” the emphasis by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the affinity between the Iranian and Turkmen nations.

He said Tehran and Ashgabat currently enjoy a “very good” level of relations but the two sides have the potential to further enhance their ties.

The top Iranian diplomat added that both countries have great capacity to bolster cooperation in energy and transportation.

Zarif said Turkmen officials are determined to use the two country's national currencies in banking transactions with the Islamic Republic and added that Iranian authorities are also ready to boost cooperation in this regard.

Heading a delegation, the Iranian foreign minister arrived in Turkmenistan’s capital Sunday night on the first leg of a three-nation tour of Central Asia and the Caucasus. He held talks with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov earlier on Monday and is scheduled to set off for the Georgian capital of Tbilisi later in the day.

On the final leg of his tour, Zarif will visit Kyrgyzstan to hold talks with the country’s senior officials.

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