A senior Iranian official has cited Turkey as a “priority” in boosting trade relations in the aftermath of the removal of sanctions, proposing to establish a new economic plan for the development of overall economic ties. [This may also include cooperation and investment in the ICT and telecommunications sector.]
“The Turkish state and government, which had stood with us during the implementation of sanctions, are of course among our priorities in this new process as the sanctions have been removed. We are aware of the capacity of Turkish companies and also of the capacity of Iranian companies. But in this new era we should introduce a new economic plan because the mechanisms that we had been utilizing during the sanctions will not respond to the necessities of this new era,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour told Hürriyet Daily News in an interview Feb. 10.
Iran has emerged as a new center of attraction for the world’s largest economies, after the removal of sanctions allowed the oil-rich country to access more than $100 billion in assets abroad as well as increase oil and natural gas exports to consumers. In an interview Iranian ambassador to Turkey Ali Reza Bikdeli said the Iranian energy portfolio was up to $300 billion.
With the removal of sanctions Iran is in the process of strengthening its economy while Turkey has lost some of its big markets, the Iranian diplomat said, adding, “We can therefore work together. Countries that had not stood with us during sanctions are now stepping forward. Why should Turkey, which stood with us during the sanctions, not be in front and stay behind?”
The Iranian diplomat said a slowdown in bilateral economic relations was observed in 2015 but it was time to look ahead. “2015 has passed; we are now looking at 2016. Energy, trade, investments and industry are areas where we think we can go ahead,” he said.
