TEHRAN – First Vice President Mohammadreza Rahimi stated that the expansion of bilateral relationship and cooperation in all domains is essential, ISNA reported.

Rahimi called Tehran-Ankara relationship strategic and crucial.
In a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Salim Kara Osman Oghlou on Sunday, Rahimi said that the capacity for expanding bilateral ties is large and the volume of the trade between Iran and Turkey can increase drastically.
Energy, oil and gas, investment, commerce, and trade are the areas in which two countries can promote and deepen their relationships, he added.
Turkish ambassador called the ties between two countries “deep and historical.”
“Today Tehran and Ankara have set higher goals and are firmly determined to develop ties in various areas,” the ambassador noted.
Also, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara is determined to take joint steps with Iran in all spheres of development and stability in the region, ISNA reported.
Ahead of his trip to Tehran, Erdogan addressed reporters in the International Ataturk Airport, stating that the Turkish delegation’s visit to Tehran will encompass many issues.
“This trip is very important, since we are going to exchange views over bilateral, regional, and international issues with our grand neighboring country,” he told reporters.
Turkish Prime Minister pointed that two countries aim to increase the bilateral trade up to $20 billion by 2011.
Iran is the second largest gas supplier to Turkey after Russia, so cooperation in this area is highly important. Moreover, cooperation in the power generation also has special significance for Turkey, he opined.
He also highlighted the role of Iran in the transit of gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey and said, “We will negotiate over this subject as well.”
He expressed satisfaction over the current level of bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism and hoped for expansion of collaboration on regional security.
Erdogan is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Monday. Turkey’s prime minister will have meetings with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, First Vice President Mohammadreza Rahimi, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, and Foreign Minter Manouchehr Mottaki during his two-day stay in the Islamic Republic.
Eighteen Turkish MPs and Turkey’s ministers of foreign affairs, energy and natural resources, and foreign trade are accompanying Erdogan on his trip to Tehran