TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held separate talks on Saturday and Sunday with leaders of certain countries on the sidelines of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, Rouhani called for expansion of ties especially in economic spheres.

“The Iranian and Turkish officials are determined to expand relations, and after implementation of the JCPOA [the formal name for the nuclear deal] and the removal of sanction, the grounds to expand ties have been laid,” Rouhani stated.

Rouhani added it is essential to expand banking relations between the two neighboring countries.

Rouhani also described Iran and Turkey as two “influential” countries in the fight against terrorism.

For his part, Erdogan pointed to the removal of sanctions against Iran under the nuclear deal and called for expansion of economic relations with Tehran.

The Turkish president called on the two countries’ central banks to remove obstacles in order to expand ties.

Elsewhere, the Turkish ruler said his government attaches great importance to unity between Ankara and Tehran in fighting terrorism.

During a meeting with Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, on Sunday, Rouhani said that independent countries should reinforce unity and cooperation.

He also called for continuation of consultations among the countries that export oil.

For his part, Maduro said that the two countries should deepen relations.

The Iranian president also met separately with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev during which he called relations “friendly” and “growing”.

Rouhani called for expansion of cooperation in energy sphere.

Aliyev also said Baku is interested in strengthening relations with Tehran.

Rouhani met separately with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

NA/PA