Iran, Turkey discuss ways to further cooperation, nuclear issue

Ankara, July 19, IRNA - Foreign Minister of Iran Manouchehr Mottaki discussed promotion of bilateral ties with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Iranian minister who visited Turkey at the invitation of his
Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan left Ankara on Friday evening.

During the meeting, Mottaki and Erdogan stressed the need for
broadening Tehran-Ankara economic ties by carrying out more projects
in energy field including construction of power plants.

Mottaki also briefed Erdogan on latest developments on Iran's peaceful nuclear program hoping that the upcoming talks between nuclear Iran and the Group 5+1 would lead to positive outcome.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Geneva, Austria, on July 18 to take part in the talks due to be held on Saturday.

In a major shift from a long-standing policy, the US State Department
announced on Wednesday that Under Secretary of State William Burns,
the third-highest US diplomat, would join the 5+1 talks with Iran.

The Turkish prime minister told Mottaki that Ankara was happy that the trend of talks between Iran and the West was progressing.

Erdogan stressed that peaceful negotiations was the only solution to
Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.

Mottaki also held two rounds of talks with his Turkish counterpart and also met Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

His visit to Turkey was part of a regional tour which had earlier took him to Oman and Syria.