The sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU against Iran's oil sector will not affect Tehran-Ankara ties, Turkish ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim said, Press TV reported.
Yardim added that Turkey supports the expansion of all-out ties with Iran, reiterating that neither sanctions nor any other measures could affect relations between the two states.
He said that the volume of trade transactions between the two countries stood at USD 16.2 billion in 2011, which reflected a 50 and 150 percent of growth compared to 2010 and 2009, respectively.
The envoy said that the rising volume of transactions between the two countries over the past three years proved that unilateral sanctions have failed to show an impact on Tehran-Ankara relations.
He condemned the US and EU oil sanctions against Iran as unjustifiable and said oil is a strategic commodity and a vital source of energy.
On the New Year's Eve, the United States imposed new sanctions against Iran aimed at preventing other countries from importing Iran's oil and doing transactions with its central bank.
European Union foreign ministers also approved sanctions against Iran on January 23, including a ban on Iranian oil imports, a freeze on the assets of the country's Central Bank within EU states and a ban on selling diamonds, gold, and other precious metals to Tehran.
The United States, the Israeli regime and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program, using the false pretext to impose sanctions against Iran.
Iran has rejected the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful use. Tehran has also challenged the silence and inaction of the UN and IAEA with respect to Israeli nuclear program and its implied possession of atomic warheads, repeatedly calling for total abolishment of all nuclear arms.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reiterated recently during a Tehran Friday prayer sermon that Iran has never sought and will never seek nuclear weapons and considers the possession of such arms as a great sin, useless and destructive.
Edited by: S. Isayev
U.S., EU sanctions not to impact Iran-Turkey ties - envoy
The sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU against Iran’s oil sector will not affect Tehran-Ankara ties, Turkish ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim said.
