Tehran, Ashgabat can play positive role in regional security: FM

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic and Turkmenistan can play a positive role in maintaining security in the region.

“Under the current circumstances in the world, Iran and Turkmenistan, as two secure countries in a region affected by extremist and violent moves, can play a favorable role in the provision of regional security,” Zarif said in a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Ashgabat on Monday, Press TV reported.

He described as “valuable” the emphasis by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the affinity between the Iranian and Turkmen nations.

He said Tehran and Ashgabat currently enjoy a “very good” level of relations but the two sides have the potential to further enhance their ties.

The top Iranian diplomat added that both countries have great capacity to bolster cooperation in energy and transportation.

Zarif said Turkmen officials are determined to use the two country's national currencies in banking transactions with the Islamic Republic and added that Iranian authorities are also ready to boost cooperation in this regard.

SS