Türkiye, Iran Agree to Boost Ties, Cooperation

Türkiye, Iran Agree to Boost Ties, Cooperation
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Türkiye, Iran Agree to Boost Ties, Cooperation

Türkiye, Iran Agree to Boost Ties, Cooperation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, asserted the importance of taking a joint stance against "Israeli atrocities and brutality in the Palestinian territories."

During a phone call, the two leaders discussed the "unlawful attacks" on Gaza, humanitarian aid efforts, and possible measures to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

Earlier, Türkiye and Iran reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people in the face of the escalating Israeli aggression, their continued diplomatic efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire, and the arrival of aid to the Gaza Strip.

The two countries expressed their desire to enhance further cooperation in various political, security, and economic fields and about regional and international issues of common interest.

- Developments in Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, also discussed the recent developments in Gaza, bilateral relations, and ongoing efforts to boost cooperation in various fields over the phone.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Fidan confirmed Türkiye will continue to exert all possible efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading to other regions.

The sources added that Fidan stressed the need to achieve the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the borders of June 4, 1967.

He also called for mobilizing the efforts of Islamic countries to achieve this goal.

The sources noted that Fidan was satisfied with the announcement of various parties about their readiness to consider guarantorship, which Türkiye proposed for post-war on Gaza.

In turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the discussions between Amirabdollahian and Fidan focused on recent developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and several issues of bilateral concern.

The Ministry added in a statement that Amirabdollahian stressed the need for Iran and Türkiye, along with other Islamic countries, to take more decisive measures to support the Palestinian people.

The FM underscored the "need for a complete end to the Zionist regime's crimes against the Palestinian nation in Gaza and the West Bank."

- Strengthening cooperation

Amirabdollahian said he was pleased with the growing trend of cooperation between the two countries on different fronts, expressing hope that the continuation of high-level diplomacy between the two countries will lead to the ever-increasing enhancement of cooperation.

The recent developments in Gaza prompted more coordination and consultation between Ankara and Tehran.

The top Iranian diplomat visited Ankara in early November and discussed the situation in Gaza with Fidan.

He also met Erdogan, and the two sides called for a regional conference to discuss the situation, end the Israeli aggression and provide aid to the Palestinian people.

According to diplomatic sources, Fidan discussed the developments in Syria with Amirabdollahian.

The Iranian FM asserted that Tehran would continue its efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus.

The meeting also addressed the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) issue in northern Iraq and its extension into Syria, the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG), the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Fidan stressed at the International Strategic Communications Summit (Stratcom) in Istanbul last Friday that terrorist groups exploit social media and carry out organized crimes to ensure financing, noting that old methods have become insufficient in the war against terrorism.

He reiterated that the support provided by allies, especially the US, to the Kurdistan Workers' Party and its affiliated YPG Units, claiming to fight the terrorist organization ISIS, was a major strategic mistake.

Fidan stressed that Türkiye will continue to take all necessary steps and precautions to enhance its national security.

Türkiye seeks tripartite cooperation with Iran and Iraq in combating the Kurdistan Workers' Party, as it is a threat to the three countries.



Iran, US to Resume Talks in Oman to Narrow Gaps over New Nuclear Deal

The flags of USA and Iran are displayed in Muscat, Oman, 25 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
The flags of USA and Iran are displayed in Muscat, Oman, 25 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
TT
20

Iran, US to Resume Talks in Oman to Narrow Gaps over New Nuclear Deal

The flags of USA and Iran are displayed in Muscat, Oman, 25 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
The flags of USA and Iran are displayed in Muscat, Oman, 25 April 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER

Top Iranian and US negotiators will meet again on Saturday to hammer out a new deal curbing Tehran's advancing nuclear program, while US President Donald Trump signaled confidence in clinching a new pact that would block Iran's path to a nuclear bomb.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will negotiate indirectly with Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat through Omani mediators, a week after a second round in Rome that both sides described as constructive, said Reuters.
Talks are set to start at expert-level, which will begin drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal, ahead of an indirect meeting between the lead negotiators.
Trump, in an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, said "I think we're going to make a deal with Iran", but he repeated a threat of military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
While both Tehran and Washington have said they are set on pursuing diplomacy, they remain far apart on a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two decades.
Trump, who has restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran since February, ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.
Since 2019, Iran has breached the pact's nuclear curbs including "dramatically" accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, according to the UN nuclear watchdog.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran would have to entirely stop enriching uranium under a deal, and import any enriched uranium it needed to fuel its sole functioning atomic energy plant, Bushehr.
Tehran is willing to negotiate some curbs on its nuclear work in return for the lifting of sanctions, according to Iranian officials, but ending its enrichment program or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile are among "Iran's red lines that could not be compromised" in the talks.
Moreover, European states have suggested to US negotiators that a comprehensive deal should include limits preventing Iran from acquiring or finalizing the capacity to put a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, several European diplomats said.
Tehran insists its defense capabilities like missile program are not negotiable. An Iranian official with knowledge of the talks said on Friday that Tehran sees its missile program as a bigger obstacle in the talks.