ANKARA (AA) – Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday hailed his country’s relations with Turkey.
“Turkey is a leading country among those we have good relations with, ” he told Iran’s state television.
The top Iranian diplomat said Tehran would cooperate with Ankara to put off wildfire in the Iraqi part of Hour al-Azim wetland.
He said his country would hold talks with Turkey and Iraq in an effort to resolve environment and water-related troubles in the region.
Zarif said recent economic difficulties in Turkey were triggered by the psychological atmosphere created by the U.S.
Turkey-U.S. relations took a nosedive on Aug. 1, when the Trump administration announced sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers after Ankara refused to release an American pastor who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.
On Aug. 10, Trump upped the ante by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.
In response, Turkey raised tariffs on several U.S.-made goods, including alcohol and tobacco products as well as vehicles.
Political tensions between Ankara and Washington had sparked worries in markets, but the Turkish lira has staged a recovery last week, after positive messages from European capitals and Qatar’s decision to invest $15 billion in Turkey.
*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this story from Ankara
