Iranian, Turkish defense ministers stress military, regional cooperation

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli in a phone conversation on Tuesday underlined continued cooperation between the two countries in military fields and resolving regional problems.

"Annihilation of the Daesh was an instance of regional cooperation and the result of interactions among Iran, Russia and Turkey, and this important event resulted in the Zionists and the US government's frustration," General Hatami said.

He also underscored defense cooperation between Iran and Turkey, and said, "We welcome expansion of cooperation between the two countries in military fields, defense industries and exchange of training and research to enhance the level of security-defense capabilities and we are prepared to expand ties between the two ministries to new levels of cooperation, specially in defense industries."

General Hatami said certain regional and international powers have been attempting to stir differences between Iran and Turkey in the last few years, but determination of the two countries' leaders foiled their plots.

General Canikli, for his part, stressed that the recent developments have highlighted the necessity for cooperation between Iran and Turkey, adding that mutual defense cooperation is highly important.

EA