'Ankara always backed Tehran in its nuclear programme'

Despite numerous sanctions and pressure on Iran by the U.S. and the EU, Turkey has always supported the country's position in its nuclear program, TRT Haber TV channel quotes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.

According to Erdogan, Turkey's relations with other countries do not depend on religious affiliation. Thus, Sunni Turkey has always supported the Shiite Iran, Erdogan said.

"Despite the West's persuasion to change our position on Iran, Turkey continues to support Tehran's nuclear program," Erdogan said.

The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.


/Trend/