'Hegemons do not want development of Turkey and Iran'

Despite the fact that Turkey and Iran are independent states, they have common enemies, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit to Tehran, the official website of the President of Iran said on Thursday.

"Hegemons do not want development of Turkey and Iran. Tehran and Ankara should not be deceived with shrewd policy of hegemons, not wishing strengthening these countries' power in the region," Ahmadinejad said.

The Iranian president also noted that economic, political and energy cooperation between Iran and Turkey is at a high level.

Iran and Turkey should continue to develop their relations, since the development of these relations contributes to the development and security of the peoples of these countries.

Erdogan, in turn, said that Turkey supports and will continue to support Iran's position in developing nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

"For the development of relations between Turkey and Iran, countries should make full use of the existing potential," Erdogan said.

The visit of the Turkish Prime Minister to Iran began on Wednesday. Erdogan met the chairman of the Iranian parliament Ali Larijani, Vice President of Iran Mohammed Reza Rahimi and country's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The U.S. and other Western countries suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is aimed at meeting the country's electricity needs.


/Trend/