Iranian VP Holds High-Profile Meetings in Turkmenistan

Apart from an address to the 1st Caspian Economic Forum in Turkmenistan’s coastal city of Turkmenistan on Monday, the Iranian first vice president held separate meetings with Turkmenistan’s president and the prime ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the forum.

 

US after Insecurity in Persian Gulf

In a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Jahangiri decried the US administration for pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal and imposing “cruel and inhumane sanctions” against Tehran.

He also noted that the US has been seeking insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to find a pretext for creating a maritime coalition in the Persian Gulf.

“We deem all such (US) measures disruptive to regional stability and security, and expect the UN Security Council’s major member states, such as Russia, to warn the US against such measures,” the Iranian vice president added.

He also emphasized the need for the enhancement of relations between Tehran and Moscow in various fields, including the energy and railroad industries.

For his part, the Russian premier expressed Moscow’s respect for Tehran’s “logical and mighty” reaction to the US withdrawal from the multilateral nuclear agreement, saying the Russian authorities unanimously believe that the US sanctions on Iran are illegal.

Medvedev also called for diversification of the foreign currencies used in Iran-Russia trade and banking transactions, saying the US attempts to mount pressures on Moscow and Tehran.

 

Turkmenistan Eyes Joint Caspian Projects with Iran

In one of the other meetings, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow thanked the Iranian first vice president and his delegation for taking part in the Caspian Economic Forum, saying Ashgabat and Tehran can work on joint energy projects in the Caspian Sea.

Jahangiri also urged efforts to remove the obstacles to banking relations between Iran and Turkmenistan in order to pave the way for closer cooperation between the private sectors.

 

Kazakhstan’s Role in Syria Peace Talks Undeniable

In another meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin in Turkmenistan, Jahangiri praised Kazakhstan for hosting a series of negotiations for peace in Syria, known as the Astana peace process.

Highlighting the 110 cooperation agreements that Iran and Kazakhstan have signed over the past three decades, Jahangiri voiced Tehran’s readiness for the promotion of banking and trade ties with Nur-Sultan.

For his part, Mamin expressed gratitude to Iran for supporting Kazakhstan’s stances on the Astana peace talks, hoping that an upcoming session of a joint commission with Iran would result in the enhancement of bilateral ties.

 

Baku Eager for Industrial, Medical Cooperation with Tehran

The ways to boost economic and trade ties between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan was the main topic of a meeting between Azeri Prime Minister of Novruz Mammadov and Eshaq Jahangiri.

A multiplication of shipment of goods through Iran via the International North-South Transport Corridor indicates Iran’s strategic position in the region, the Azeri premier noted, voicing Baku’s willingness for industrial and medical cooperation with Tehran.

Jahangiri also announced in the meeting that promotion of trilateral and multilateral cooperation among Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Turkmenistan and Georgia would raise the volume of trade exchanges between Tehran and Baku.