Iran, Turkey enjoy strategic relations - official
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has said
that Iran and Turkey enjoy strategic relations, IRIB reported.
"The continuation of bilateral ties will guarantee security and
cooperation in the region," he said.
Referring to the regional developments, especially in Syria and
Bahrain, the Iranian official said that the Syrians should
determine their destiny on their own and Iran supports people's
choice.
In March, IRNA news agency quoted Iranian deputy trade minister
Hamid Safdel as saying that Iran and Turkey have potential to
increase trade turnover volume.
He referred to the current level of bilateral trade, which stands
at $20 billion, as insignificant, and added that a preferential
trade agreement will be signed in the current year between the two
neighbor countries.
In January, IRNA cited data by Turkey's statistics center,
indicating that the value of trade between Iran and Turkey
surpassed $20.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2012, showing
around 40 percent rise compared to the same period in 2011.
Turkey's exports to Iran amounted to $7 billion in the mentioned
period, mainly due to the exports of gold to Iran.
Oil, gas, and petrochemicals account for the lion's share of Iran's
exports to Turkey.
In December, 2012 Iran's Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour
said the trade volume between Iran and Turkey can potentially
increase fivefold to as high as $100 billion a year.
The Iranian ambassador added that ample investment opportunities
await Turkish investors in Iran.
The value of the trade between Iran and Turkey exceeded $16 billion
in 2011. The two countries plan to increase the level of their
bilateral trade volume to $30 billion by 2015.