“Iran has proved that it is always a reliable, trustworthy and steadfast partner for all countries, particularly neighboring states in the region,” Salehi said in a meeting with Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz on Saturday.
“Due to the Islamic Republic’s strategy of rationality, wisdom and prudence, the West has no option but to interact with Iran,” he added.
Pointing to the important positions of Iran and Turkey, Salehi described both countries as powerful centers of thought, politics, culture and economy in the Muslim world and the region.
The Iranian foreign minister highlighted the resolve of both countries’ high ranking officials to strengthen bilateral relations by using their vast capacities.
Yilmaz, for his part, said that Iran and Turkey, as two influential countries in the region and the Muslim world, play important roles in managing current regional affairs.
The Turkish minister added that, despite some differences on certain issues, Iran and Turkey are tied by their interests, concerns and fate, and will prevent their common enemies from sowing discord among great Muslim states.
Yilmaz, who is on a three-day visit to Iran at the head of an economic delegation, had said earlier on Friday that Turkey seeks to increase the volume of trade transactions with Iran to more than USD 30 billion from the current level of USD 22 billion.