Iran and Turkey fail to strike energy cooperation deal
Washington, 14 August (IranVNC)—Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, in Istanbul today, where the two failed to sign a multi-billion-dollar energy cooperation deal, Reuters reports.
By: IranVNC
Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
17:15GMT—1:15PM/EST
IRAN – TURKEY – ENERGY – NUCLEAR
Washington, 14 August (IranVNC)—Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, in Istanbul today, where the two failed to sign a multi-billion-dollar energy cooperation deal, Reuters reports.
But the two countries will continue to discuss cooperation in the energy sector, Iran and Turkey said in a joint statement issued after the closed-door meeting in Turkey’s largest city.
The deal, part of a joint initiative launched last year, would expand Iran’s natural gas exports to Turkey and set rates for the transport of gas from Turkmenistan through Iran.
After Russia, Iran is Turkey’s largest provider of gas, but Turkey has come under pressure from Western countries to curb its cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
Washington, which has led international efforts to isolate Iran over its failure to comply with international demands to halt its nuclear program, has opposed any new agreement between Iran and Turkey – a NATO member with close ties to Western countries.
“Such a deal by Turkey with Iran would send the wrong message at a time when the Iranian regime has repeatedly failed to comply with its [United Nations] Security Council and IAEA obligations,” the Financial Times quoted the State Department as saying.
The department added: “It is time for the international community, including our ally Turkey, to begin considering additional measures to pressure Iran.”
Iran’s nuclear program, which it says is aimed solely at developing peaceful nuclear power, is also expected to be on the agenda during Ahmadinejad’s two-day visit to Turkey.
Ankara has said it does not want to see a nuclear-armed Iran, and has suggested it could help resolve international community’s standoff with the Islamic Republic.
Last month, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Ankara’s role in the dispute was one of “consolidating and facilitating”, but did not suggest it take a formal mediation role.
But Iran has dismissed the possibility of Turkish mediation over its nuclear program.
Asked yesterday whether he thought Turkey could become a mediator between Iran and the West, Ahmadinejad said: “We appreciate the efforts of our Turkish friends in advancing Iran’s legal rights… but Turkey’s presence in the capacity mentioned is not needed because our path is clear,” Mehr News Agency reports.
Ahmadinejad’s trip marks his first visit to Turkey since taking office three years ago.
Sources: Reuters, Financial Times, Mehr News Agency in Persian
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