TEHRAN – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to visit Turkey soon, marking the eighth meeting of the high-level cooperation council between the two nations.

While Fidan did not provide the exact date of Raisi's visit during his address at the parliament's budget talks on Dec. 21, he emphasized the strategic significance of Turkey's relations with Iran.

Fidan reminisced about the inaugural foreign ministerial-level meeting of the South Caucasus Regional Cooperation Platform held in Tehran on Oct. 23, which brought together Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Iran. He disclosed that the subsequent meeting of this platform is slated to take place in Turkey in 2024.

The announcement comes after the absence of President Raisi from a summit in Ankara on Nov. 28, previously confirmed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, raised questions last month. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, the coordination for Raisi’s trip was expected to follow the meeting of the foreign ministers of both nations at the United Nations. Unfortunately, the trip faced a delay due to the untimely issuance of travel permits for Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. Consequently, the visit has been rescheduled for a later timeframe.

However, diplomatic engagements between the two nations have persisted. Recent phone conversations between the two countries’ presidents and top diplomats have focused on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. During these discussions, both parties expressed deep concern over the developments in Gaza, particularly the relentless bombing of residential areas and civilians in the besieged region.

Both Iran and Turkey have consistently condemned Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians. They are actively working to support the people of Gaza, emphasizing the urgency of establishing a ceasefire, halting the attacks, and lifting the blockade imposed on Gaza. These efforts underscore the critical and fundamental priorities to address the situation at the current sensitive juncture.

MAS