Turkey, Iran seek joint efforts against terrorism

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, have exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings amid a call from Tehran to stage a joint fight against terrorism, Hürriyet Daily News reported.

Rouhani expressed his sorrow about a June 28 terror attack at Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport that claimed 47 lives, according to a statement on the website of the Iranian Embassy in Ankara.

“The struggle against terrorism requires close cooperation between the two countries and the serious steps by the two countries against this evil will surely eradicate terrorism in the region,” Rouhani told Erdoğan on the phone, according to the embassy.

Turkish authorities said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was responsible for the attack.

Turkish presidency sources also said Rouhani highlighted the importance of international cooperation against terrorism, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Thanking Iran for expressing sympathy with Turkey over the recent terrorist attacks, Erdoğan highlighted the necessity for concerted action against terrorists, according to the website of Tasnim News Agency.

The Iranian leader “touched the deep partnerships between the two countries and highlighted that the conditions are suitable for both countries to develop relations in all fields,” the embassy said.

Rouhani also said rapidly implementing trade accords between the two countries would be an important step forward to developing mutual relations.

As part of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Erdoğan also spoke to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Erdoğan congratulated Nazarbayev on his birthday and discussed the Kazakh president’s upcoming visit to Turkey in August.

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