Azerbaijan, Baku, May 22/Trend M. Moezzi
Turkey's Minister of Development said his country does not support economic sanctions imposed by The U.S. and the European Union against Iran as he led a trade delegation's visit to Tehran.
Cevdet Yılmaz said Iran is a "brother and friend," although his country's United Nations' vote against imposing sanctions on Iran, Fars news agency reports.
Yilmaz pointed to the two neighbors' combined population of 150 million, a gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.3 trillion (USD) and their $2 trillion in purchasing power as evidence that their bilateral trade has to grow. Iran and Turkey's annual trade is about $16 billion.
Iran and Turkey have agreed to boost their trade to $30 billion by 2015.
Tehran has faced tough international sanctions against its Central Bank and oil industry. Led by the U.S., the West is trying to make Iran answer questions about its nuclear program, which it says is peaceful and civilian in nature, while the U.S. and its allies contend it is not.
In mid-April, Turkey hosted the first round of talks between permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) and Iran. The P5+1 talks are part of the diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to limit its nuclear program. The second session of negotiations will be held in Baghdad tomorrow, May 23.