“Statistics show that despite sanctions, the volume of our country’s trade exchanges has increased,” Nahavandian told the reporters on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Board of Directors in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Thursday.
The Iranian official added that the countries like Turkey that did not contribute to the anti-Iran sanctions have benefitted from their trade relations with Tehran.
Nahavandian referred to the increasing trade relations between Tehran and Ankara over the past few years saying that the rising trend should be preserved and that the two countries should resolve any possible problems in a fair way.
He stated that the expansion of Tehran-Ankara relations will affect regional countries in different areas such as transportation, energy and industries.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Under pressure from Washington, the United Nations Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The Security Council's measure was followed by a series of illegal unilateral embargoes against Iran by the US and the European Union.
Iran refutes the West's allegations and argues that as a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
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