Pezeshkian and Erdogan meet at COP31 to discuss expanding Iran-Turkey ties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of the 31st UN climate change conference (COP31) in Turkey, according to Mehr News Agency. The two leaders discussed ways to develop and deepen bilateral relations as well as the most important regional and international developments.

The presidents stressed what they described as the outstanding status of historical, cultural and civilizational relations between Iran and Turkey and the importance of deep ties between the two neighboring peoples. They emphasized the need to use the wide existing capacities to raise the level of cooperation in various political, economic, trade and regional fields. Both sides pointed to a shared will to expand relations within the framework of mutual respect, good neighborliness and common interests.

According to the report, the two presidents identified the development of trade exchanges, facilitation of economic cooperation, strengthening of private sector interaction and use of diverse cooperation opportunities as important areas ahead for Tehran-Ankara relations.

The talks also covered regional affairs. Pezeshkian and Erdogan exchanged views on current regional developments and the need to strengthen cooperation among regional countries to preserve peace, stability and sustainable security. They stressed the importance of dialogue, constructive engagement and joint efforts to prevent escalation of tensions and the spread of insecurity in the region. The discussions further emphasized the shared responsibility of regional countries in supporting security, stability and sustainable development, and the need for approaches based on cooperation and convergence to address common challenges.

The meeting took place on the margins of COP31, which is being held in Turkey. No further details on the duration of the talks or any agreements reached were provided in the report. The Mehr News Agency account added that the two presidents underscored the importance of continued consultation between Tehran and Ankara on matters of mutual interest.