Iran, Turkmenistan Ready To Develop Trade

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (left) with his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad (file photo)

Officials from the Caspian Sea countries of Iran and Turkmenistan have pledged to build trade ties.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said his country was prepared to raise its trade volume with the Central Asian nation to $10 billion, up from $5 billion in 2011.

His comments on July 16 came as Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov concluded a two-day official visit to Iran.

Iranian trade officials said they are ready to export technical and engineering services for Turkmenistan's energy development and housing construction.

The plans come as Iran faces a tightening sanctions regime by Western nations who suspect Tehran of developing nuclear weapons.

Meredov called Iran the "closest and best neighbor" of Turkmenistan and said ties between the two countries would never be influenced by "marginal issues" like sanctions.

Based on reporting by iran.ru, presstv.com, and irna.ir