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Turkey and Iran pledged to intensify cooperation across trade, energy and regional security on Sunday, as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concluded a high-stakes working visit to Tehran marked by a strong display of strategic alignment between the two neighbors.
Standing beside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Fidan said both sides had “reconfirmed the urgency of unlocking the full potential” of their economic partnership. “Trade and energy are top priorities, and today’s discussions made clear that much more can be achieved,” he said, citing the depth of long-standing bilateral coordination.
Fidan announced that Ankara and Tehran agreed to streamline border procedures, expand the number of border gates, and accelerate logistics and transportation projects designed to modernize cross-border movement. “Turkey and Iran have large populations, deep ties and substantial trade volumes, yet our economic exchanges must become far more efficient,” he noted, marking his fourth visit to Iran as foreign minister.
Joint push on migration and regional coordination
The talks also focused heavily on irregular migration, particularly from Afghanistan, where both countries face mounting pressures. “We aim to confront this challenge jointly with Iran,” Fidan said, stressing the need for “practical, operational cooperation” across the broader region.
He welcomed Iran’s decision to open a new consulate in the Turkish province of Van and said he would attend the inauguration if his Iranian counterpart were also present.
Unified stance: Israel deemed ‘the greatest threat to regional stability’
On regional security, both ministers agreed to convene the ninth Turkey–Iran High-Level Cooperation Council at the presidential level “without delay.”
They further underscored a rare public convergence on the Middle East, jointly identifying Israel as “the biggest threat to stability in the region,” citing ongoing crises in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and expressing alarm over Israel’s “expansionist trajectory.”
“The international community must shoulder its responsibilities,” Fidan said, urging greater global pressure on Israel.
Support for Iran in nuclear talks, and broader global diplomacy
Fidan reaffirmed Ankara’s backing of Tehran during ongoing nuclear negotiations and called for the lifting of what he termed “unrighteous and unjust sanctions.”
“Iran must resolve its outstanding issues within the framework of international law,” he said.
He also reiterated Turkey’s commitment to diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Later, in a statement on NSosyal, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that Fidan met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly.