Closer Iran-Turkey ties to benefit region, Muslim world: Interior minister
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi says further expansion of relations between Iran and Turkey will be beneficial to the Muslim world and the entire region.
In a Wednesday meeting with the new Turkish ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kırlangıç, Vahidi said Iran and Turkey are two leading countries in the Muslim world and the region.
"The promotion of all-out ties between the two countries will promote peace and stability in the region and pave the way for further communication between the [two] nations," he said.
He warned that the presence of extra-regional countries in the region foments instability and undermines relations between regional countries, urging the countries of the region to settle their differences through enhanced interaction and cooperation without reliance on extra-regional countries.
He also argued that the West and the United States are dismayed by the progress of the Muslim world.
Referring to the acts of desecration against the Holy Qur'an in Sweden and Denmark, Vahidi slammed the silence of European countries vis-à-vis the blasphemous acts which hurt the feelings of some two billion Muslims across the world.
The Iranian minister noted that the desecration of the Holy Qur'an is an insult to all divine religions.
Over the past month, the Holy Qur’an has been subject to acts of desecration by extremist elements in separate incidents in Sweden and Denmark, which were perpetrated under the aegis of those countries' governments.
The sacrilegious moves have drawn the ire of the whole Muslim world, prompting the summoning or expulsion of Swedish and Danish envoys from several Muslim countries.
The Turkish ambassador, for his part, said Tehran and Ankara enjoy deep-rooted and cordial relations based on historical and cultural commonalities.
Kırlangıç reaffirmed his country’s call for further promotion of cooperation with Iran in various fields.
He underlined the need for more foreign trade and security cooperation, exchange of visits by the citizens from both countries and fight against terrorism.
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