Iranian official: Tehran supports Ankara's activities in discussion over Iran's nuclear program

Iran and Turkey have good relations, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said. He was commenting on Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's Iran visit scheduled for Feb.16. "It is evidenced by the lengthy negotiations between senior officials of both countries," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Iran Feb. 16, Iribnews reported. During his visit, the minister is expected to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki. It is assumed that the Turkish Minister's visit will be held on the backdrop of the launch of uranium enrichment up to 20-percent by Iran.

According to the Turkish Minister, Turkey exhausted the possibilities and opened all the doors for the continuation of diplomatic talks on Iran's nuclear program.

Tehran transparently announced and continues to voice its position on nuclear policy of "peaceful aims" in all bilateral and international meetings. "We support the efforts of friendly countries like Turkey, which are negotiating with other nations on Iran's nuclear program and bring the program's peaceful purposes to their attention," he added.

During his visit, Davutoglu will also discuss regional and international matters, he said. However, he did not mention which specific issues will be brought to these discussions.

He said Iran and Turkey held talks on the development of relations between the two countries on regional and international issues, as well as on the internal politics of the two countries. The Iranian official added that this visit will also take place on the background of these negotiations.

Iran has already enriched the first batch of uranium up to 20-percent, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at the rally in Tehran to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, IRINN television channel reported. "We have asked the West to provide us with 20-percent enriched uranium and they refused," he said. "So, we ourselves have launched the uranium enrichment."

Previously, Turkey has repeatedly stated on its willingness to mediate on issue of Iran's nuclear program.

The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons for military purposes under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying that its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting the country's electricity needs. The U.N. Security Council adopted five resolutions in connection with the suspension of Iran's nuclear program. Three involve the use of economic sanctions on Iran.

/Trend News/