Turkish Envoy: Iran Sanctions Cannot Affect Tehran-Ankara Ties

Tehran, Feb 29, IRNA - Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim on Tuesday said Sanctions against Iran cannot affect Tehran-Ankara ties. He told IRNA that Turkey sees no problem for expansion of ties with Iran, adding that Iran--Turkey neighborly ties are excellent and their economic and trade relations showed a 50 percent growth in 2011 and a ruise of 150 percent in 2009. “The rapid growth in mutual trade exchange proves that the current sanctions against Iran have no effect on bilateral mutual ties,” Yardim said. Condemning US and some other European countries for their unilateral ban on Iran's oil exports, he said since oil is an strategic source of energy for all nations, Iran oil embargo does not have any reasonable justifications. The Turkish diplomat reiterated that Turkey will not let any countries interfere in Tehran-Ankara affairs and said 'We must try to keep the current ties intact and let not a third party negatively affect it./end