Tehran, 30 July 2022 (TDI): Minister of Energy of Iran, Ali Akbar Mehrabian, while speaking to reporters on Friday, discussed issues concerning the Aras river.
The main agenda of discussion was mitigation of concerns about the Aras river with Turkiye. He mentioned strengthening water and energy diplomacy as the priority of the Iranian government’s foreign policy.
Minister: #Iran, #Turkey agree to remove concerns about Aras drainage basin https://t.co/PJ9Uf27dG3 pic.twitter.com/kJ5FwoGJNg
— Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@Iran_GOV) July 29, 2022
Speaking to reporters, Iran’s Energy Minister referred to the recent visit of the Turkish President to Iran. He said during the Turkish President’s visit, both Iran and Turkiye agreed to remove any concerns on the Aras drainage basin.
Aras River is one of the most important rivers in Iran. It has important potential for catching fish besides being a tourist attraction.
The Minister further said that these issues are being looked upon by the President himself with special care.
He said the President of Iran and Turkiye agreed to hold talks with coordination of the Minister of Energy of Iran and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkiye. Both the concerned bodies in the water issue will reduce Iran’s concerns in this regard.
Iranian Energy Minister also highlighted the issue of Hirmand. He said that Iran’s rights have been realized by the Afghan side, which is a positive step, but that is not enough for Iran.
Iran-Turkiye Relations
The relationship between Iran and Turkiye is complex and is characterized by periods of both tension and cooperation.
Turkiye has an embassy in Tehran and consulates in Mashhad, Tabriz, and Urmia. Similarly, Iran has an embassy in Ankara and consulates in Istanbul, Erzurum, and Trabzon.
In 2020, Iran and Turkiye were among the most vocal critics of the Israel-UAE peace agreement. Iran and Turkiye have very close trade and economic relations. Both countries are also part of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization).
In recent times, high-level bilateral exchanges between both countries have led to great progress in bilateral relations.
In July 2022, Turkish President Erdogan visited Iran as part of the Astana Process talks. On the sidelines of this visit, both countries held separate meetings, signed MOUs, and aimed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
