Türkiye, Iran sign 10 agreements during Raisi's delayed trip

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, have concluded talks in the capital Ankara with the signing of 10 agreements and memorandums of understanding spanning various sectors.

The high-level talks marked the eighth meeting of the cooperation council between the two nations, held to enhance collaboration since its establishment in 2014.

Represented by substantial delegations, including several ministers, both sides engaged in discussions that culminated in deals primarily aimed at revitalizing trade between the two countries, which had seen a decline in recent years, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.

The trade volume between Türkiye and Iran, which stood at $22 billion in 2012, has plummeted to around $6 billion, analysts say. During the visit, both parties reiterated their commitment to a $30 billion target.

One of the factors contributing to the decline was Iran's exclusion of certain products from the trade agreement, with Erdoğan reiterating Ankara's expectation for the inclusion of these products in the deal once again.

In addition to trade matters, discussions between the two leaders covered plans to increase the number of border crossings to stimulate trade and cooperation in areas such as culture, science, media, internal affairs and transportation.

Erdoğan also highlighted the importance of maintaining regional security and stability, expressing concerns over the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. Both leaders affirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and the establishment of a just and lasting peace.

"We agreed on the importance of avoiding steps that would further threaten the security and stability of our region," Erdoğan stated.

Raisi echoed this sentiment,...