Iran, Turkmenistan to Boost Trade Ties Up to $60bln, Expand All-Out Cooperation

[Aramagedon]

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underscored that Tehran and Ashgabat are determined to increase the level of their trade relations up to $60bln in the next decade and further develop mutual cooperation in all fields.

"The two countries have decided to increase the level of their economic relations to $60bln in 10 years," Rouhani said in a joint press conference with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Tehran on Sunday.

"Also both sides stressed cooperation in gas, electricity, transportation, road and railway, industrial, agricultural and cultural fields," he added.

Rouhani also explained that during his today meeting with Berdimuhamedow, they agreed to compile a comprehensive plan to strengthen the two countries' relations and cooperation in economic, cultural and regional arenas.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan are resolved to boost their ties to the targeted $60 billion in mutual trade in a ten-year period.

Speaking at a meeting with Ahmed Gorbanov, Turkmenistan’s ambassador to Tehran, Zangeneh said the value of trade between Tehran and Ashgabat has soared from $90 million in 1991 to $4 billion in 2014, which must be appreciated.

Also in the meeting, Gorbanov said that implementation of the Tehran-Ashgabat agreements would be to the benefit of all regional countries.

He underlined launching of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project as an outstanding example of cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat.

The railway, which came on-stream last December, is part of the North-South international transport corridor, which joins the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea through Iran and then continues to St. Petersburg and Northern Europe via Russia.

Leader receives Turkmenistan’s president

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (R) meeting with visiting Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in the Iranian capital Tehran on November 22, 2015
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the atrocities committed by Takfiri terrorists have nothing to do with Islam.

The Leader made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the terrorist groups’ savage crimes, such as beheading and torching people, show that they know nothing about Islam, noting, “Islam is the religion of fraternity, kindness and seeking the best for others and these crimes have nothing to do with Islam.”

“In countering the violent terrorism and barbarism [committed] by Daesh and like-minded Takfiri groups committing these crimes in the name of Islam, people should be given the chance to practice rightful Islamic activities," said the Leader.

The best way for blocking the infiltration of the Takfiri currents, the Leader said, is to bolster genuine Islamic ideologies, which he described as "moderate and sensible."

Ayatollah Khamenei also described the nations of Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan as close relatives and underscored the need for the two countries to take “effective and practical” steps with a view to implementing bilateral agreements.

The Leader underlined the necessity for Iran and Turkmenistan to further cooperation amid tense conditions prevailing in the region.

“Iran-Turkmenistan border are frontiers of peace and calm, and are reason for the two sides' peace of mind and the possibility of using the Iran route for access to the Persian Gulf and high seas is a valuable opportunity for Turkmenistan,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

For his part, the Turkmen president described as unfavorable the ongoing political conditions in the region and noted that Daesh and its followers are foreigners to the teachings of Islam. He expressed regret that certain governments are supporting the Daesh terrorists.

Berdimuhamedow also expressed delight with his meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, saying Iran and Turkmenistan maintain historically good ties.

He welcomed Ayatollah Khamenei’s description of Iranian and Turkmen nations as close relatives and said the implementation of the recommendations of the Leader during previous visits have born fruitful results.

The Turkmen leader also said that some countries are interested in becoming linked to high seas through Iran and Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen head of state had last met with Ayatollah Khamenei during a 2012 visit to the Islamic Republic.

Gurbanguly arrived in Tehran earlier in the day on a visit aimed at boosting the bilateral ties.

So far during the visit, Iran and Turkmenistan have signed nine memorandums of understanding for the expansion of cooperation in different fields, including the health and medical sector, media, power transfer, sports, transportation, and housing.

During his stay, the Turkmen president is also to attend the third Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit, which is to be held in the Iranian capital on Monday, with nine heads of states, including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in attendance.