Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iran aims to reach a $30 billion trade target with Turkey, marking the country's desire to engage more with Turkish markets, said Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on March 19 during an official visit to Turkey. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is to make a visit to Turkey on March 19, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on March 18.

Zarif will conduct talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu after meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu, the statement said.

Tehran's recent ballistic missile tests did not violate a U.N. resolution and were not illegal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said March 15 after being questioned on the issue by Australia.

The United Nations Security Council met on March 14 at the request of the United States to discuss the missile tests that have raised the prospect of new sanctions.

Iran's foreign minister on March 14 defended the nation's right to use ballistic missiles following a test last week, but offered no explanation for anti-Israeli messages reportedly written on them.

Speaking in Wellington, New Zealand, Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran has always reserved the right to defend itself.

Iranian moderates have won a majority in parliament and a top clerical body charged with selecting the next supreme leader, dealing a major blow to hard-liners in the first elections held since last summer's landmark nuclear agreement with world powers.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak made an official visit to Iran on Monday, meeting his counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in a bid to develop relations that could economically benefit the cash-strapped Balkan state.

"We discussed many ways to increase our economic cooperation," said Crnadak said at a press conference, according to Iranian news FARS.

Iran took a huge step to ending its international isolation Jan. 16 as sanctions on the Islamic republic were lifted following the entry into force of last July's momentous nuclear deal with major powers.

Turkish officials have expressed hope to revive bilateral relations with neighboring Iran stalled amid Syrian conflict via high-level visits expected to take place within the next few months.

A visit by a delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜS?AD) to Tehran is likely to take place "in the coming days," a senior Turkish official said on Jan. 15.

US Secretary of State Kerry taps the personal relationship he has formed with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif during the negotiations on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, for setting 10 US Navy sailors free after they were detained when their boats drifted into Iranian watersIt turned out to be the international crisis that wasn't.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Jan. 14 stood by ally Saudi Arabia in its widening rift with Iran over the execution of a Shiite cleric while urging the regional rivals to pursue a diplomatic solution.