Turkish, Iraqi presidents reiterate resolve to maintain strong ties with Iran

President Hassan Rouhani has expressed Iran’s determination to enhance friendly relations with neighboring Turkey in all fields despite cruel US sanctions on the Iranian people.

In a Friday telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rouhani said the friendly and neighboring countries like Iran and Turkey should further boost their cooperation at a time when the US has targeted the Iranian nation with oppressive sanctions.

The president hailed Tehran-Ankara ties, especially in the economic and trade sectors, adding, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to develop friendly and brotherly bonds and cooperation with Turkey in all fields.”

Referring to some issues and problems gripping the region, Rouhani expressed hope that stability and peace would prevail through cooperation among all regional states.

He further extended congratulations to the Turkish president on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), which marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Rouhani said he hopes that Iran and Turkey would continue to work together and share experiences concerning the fight against the coronavirus as they have done so far.

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Erdogan, for his part, congratulated Rouhani on Eid al-Adha and hoped that the festivity would bring blessing for both nations and all Muslims across the world.

He also praised the Iranian government and people for making successful efforts to counter the coronavirus, stressing the need for reinforcing bilateral cooperation and transferring experiences in this regard.

Iran-Turkey economic relations should develop and their trade exchanges should accelerate in accordance with the coronavirus-related health protocols, Erdogan said, voicing hope that a meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation between the two countries would be held in the near future.

Iran has been hit by the coronavirus that first showed up in China in late December 2019 before spreading across the globe.

Inhumane US sanctions have hampered the virus fight in Iran, which has so far recorded 304,204 infections and 16,766 deaths.

Turkey has recorded 230,873 infection cases and a death toll of 5,691 from the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran ties cornerstone of Iraq’s foreign policy: Salih

In a separate phone call on Friday, Rouhani spoke with his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih.

During the conversation, the Iranian president described Eid al-Adha as the manifestation of unity among the world's Muslims and commended “a deep relationship” established throughout history between the two nations.

He said Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent visit to Iran was a positive move that provided an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. 

“We hope that bilateral decisions and agreements would be implemented as soon as possible with the attempts of both countries' officials and that we could further broaden economic relations and trade exchanges,” Rouhani said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to develop all-out ties with Iraq and is ready to cooperate and share its experience with the country in the fight against the coronavirus.”

Salih, for his part, said he hoped that unity and cooperation among all regional countries would develop during the coronavirus outbreak.

He hailed Iran for helping Iraq with the virus battle and emphasized the need for joint efforts to bolster relations and implement deals.

Enhancing cooperation with Iran is an inviolable principle of Iraq’s foreign policy, Salih added.

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