Observation: Couldn’t help but notice some of the AP reports had dropped the territorial integrity aspect entirely- Can’t imagine why (facetious) I'm going to start out by reminding my readers that Turkey and Iran have for the most part had very good relations. If you read the National Interest article regarding Putin and his godfather of Kurdistan status- that point was clearly stated. "prior to the outbreak of the Syrian civil war Turkish-Iranian relations were amicable" I'll also remind readers that Turkey did not fully comply with the US sanctions against Iran. Indicating relations stayed amicable despite the spin presented. Nor did Turkey comply with US sanctions against Russia. Facts that everyone should keep in mind. The lifting of the Iranian sanctions are very good for both Turkey and Iran. Both nations are looking to maximize that benefit. Iran's sanctions lifted; Effects on Turkey
"With the lifting of sanctions, Iran will re-emerge onto the global market as holder of the world’s second-largest oil and natural gas reserves, and Iran’s foreign assets worth USD 100-150 billion will be unfrozen for the first time in over three decades"
The lifting of sanctions will have a significant effect on Turkey’s economy as well, because of its shared borders with Iran Geographically, Turkey is the closest country to Iran, and despite the sanctions, has had an ongoing commercial relationship with the nation. Many Turkish construction companies have investments in Iran, while throughout 2015, Iranian investors incorporated 240 new firms with the Istanbul Trade Registry. With sanctions now lifted, these investments are expected to continue at an increasing rate."
An aside: I do wonder if the sanctions lifted, freeing up all this cash, were done at this time to give a boost to the global economy? Kickin that can a bit further down the road, so to speak? The US has a definite interest in floating the economy along, particulary with an upcoming (s)election.Iranian First Deputy President Ishak Cihangiri (right) and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (center left) hold a joint press conference at the Sa'dabad Complex in Tehran, Iran on March 05, 2016. ( Gökhan Balcı - Anadolu Agency ) Turkey and Iran Agree on Syria's Territorial Integrity
Turkey and Iran share a common perspective on protecting Syria's territorial integrity, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during his visit to Iran's capital Tehran on Saturday.Davutoglu said the two countries agreed to support the cessation of hostilities in Syria for the negotiation process."We [Turkey and Iran] are considering that stopping the bloodshed will provide an important basis for political negotiations," Davutoglu said.Davutoglu said he believes that Turkey and Iran agree on the need to protect Syria's territorial integrity, support the cessation of hostilities for the negotiation process, represent all of Syria’s various elements in the government, fight terrorism, and not depend on foreign actors to solve the region's problems.
It makes perfect sense that both Turkey and Iran agree on the need to protect Syria's territorial integrity! Because both nations have an interest in protecting their own. Only Israel has made noise, and taken actions to steal other nations territory and natural resources. Along with their allies, the PKK Kurds, who have been annexing territory in both Iraq and Syria with the assistance of the US. They too have been pilfering Syria's and Iraq's natural resources.Turkey and Iran agree on Syria's territorial integrity
Turkey and Iran share a common perspective on protecting Syria's territorial integrity, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during his visit to Iran's capital Tehran on Saturday.Davutoglu said the two countries agreed to support the cessation of hostilities in Syria for the negotiation process.
"We [Turkey and Iran] are considering that stopping the bloodshed will provide an important basis for political negotiations," Davutoglu said.Davutoglu said he believes that Turkey and Iran agree on the need to protect Syria's territorial integrity, support the cessation of hostilities for the negotiation process, represent all of Syria’s various elements in the government, fight terrorism, and not depend on foreign actors to solve the region's problems
Even though Ankara and Tehran's opinions on Syria have differed in the past, Davutoğlu asked Iran not to let foreign actors decide the final outcome. "We should not let the fate of the region be in the hands of foreign actors," he said.
Ankara and Tehran are on the same page now!
Recalling the times when Turkey stood by Iran amid sanctions imposed by the West, Davutoğlu said: "I'm saying once more: We stood by Iran during its toughest times. Our cooperation in the future will benefit not only the two countries, but also the entire region."
Iran assumes a special status for Turkey in its foreign policy, as Tehran's foreign policy is based on expansion of ties with its neighbor, Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri said at a joint press conference with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
The geography and economic structures of Iran and Turkey are like the pieces of a puzzle which complete each other,” the IRNA news agency quoted the Turkish premier as saying. “Iran and Turkey are friends and neighbors; if they cooperate with each other, they can turn to the strongest regional countries,” he added. “Both our countries must think about a win-win outcome in order to compete with the world economy,” Davutoglu said.
So much for the much ballyhooed (perception management?) Saudi /Turkish alliance!Iran becomes Turkish 2nd oil supplier
Turkey's oil imports increased by 43 percent in 2015 hitting a record 506,000 bpd, Iranian ministry of petroleum said. The country's imports from Iraq in 2015 doubled from a year ago reaching nearly 230,000 bpd (45% of its oil needs), it added. Iran exported 110,000 bpd to Turkey over the past year to gain a 22 percent share of the country's oil imports after Iraq. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan were Turkey's other oil suppliers following Iraq and Iran. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Tehran at the head of an economic and political delegation earlier on Saturday. Oil and gas imports from Iran are on Davutoglu's agenda.