Ambassador: Nothing can stop good relations between Iran and Turkey

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.14/ Trend F.Milad

Nothing, even the US-generated sanctions against Tehran, can stop Iran and Turkey's good relation, Iran's Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour said on Monday, Mehr news agency reported.

Hosseinpour called for adopting new approaches to expand the two countries' economic ties.

"This year, the value of trade between Iran and Turkey will surpass $21 billion," he said.

Hosseinpour went on to note that the trade volume between Tehran and Ankara 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.

According to Turkey's statistics center, 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 a lion's share of Iran's exports to Turkey.

The value of the Iran-Turkey trade exceeded $16 billion in 2011. The two countries plan to increase the level of their bilateral trade volume to $30 billion by 2015.