TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani has shared details about Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's upcoming visit to Turkey scheduled for the first week of January.

During a pivotal phone conversation on November 26, President Raisi engaged in a comprehensive discussion with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 
Emphasizing the deep-rooted historical friendship and shared values between Iran and Turkey, President Raisi articulated the importance of expanding cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spectrums between Tehran and Ankara.

During that conversation, President Raisi, recognizing Iran and Turkey's influential roles in the Islamic world, expressed optimism that their collaboration would serve as a positive model for interactions among Islamic nations, fostering unity and mutual understanding.

A key focus of the conversation was President Raisi's address to the U.S.'s role in the violence against the people of Gaza. He characterized any potential American intervention in Gaza as a continuation of crimes against Palestinians. Condemning the U.S. for its involvement in the actions of the Zionist regime, President Raisi underlined the inevitable discredit of the U.S. government on a global scale. Asserting that the people of Gaza, represented by Hamas, should determine their future based on the general will of the region, he highlighted that Americans have no authority to interfere, and any such attempts are destined to fail.

President Erdogan, in response, acknowledged the positive relations between Tehran and Ankara, expressing his commitment to elevating these relations to an exceptional level. The conversation underscored their shared vision for a stronger partnership.

Moreover, President Erdogan's visit to Tehran in July 2023 for an official bilateral meeting and participation in the seventh Astana process summit showcased the commitment of both nations to collaborative efforts. Leading a high-ranking delegation of political and economic officials, Erdogan engaged in fruitful discussions that resulted in the signing of eight cooperation documents and memoranda of understanding, covering diverse fields of collaboration.

Also, during a recent meeting with Turkish President on the sidelines of the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Uzbekistan, President Raisi highlighted the paramount concern of the Muslim world: the Palestinian issue and Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Stressing the importance of exerting pressure on the occupying regime to halt its aggression, President Raisi emphasized the shared commitment to addressing critical challenges within the Muslim world.

The upcoming visit of President Raisi to Turkey is highly anticipated to mark a significant milestone, further strengthening the ties between Iran and Turkey, and paving the way for increased collaboration and understanding between the two nations.

MAS