Tehran, Ankara agree to expand agricultural, border ties after SCO meet
The Iranian agriculture minister said on Saturday that Iran and Turkey have agreed to deepen agricultural and border cooperation, driven by a notable surge in bilateral farm trade over the past year.
According to a report by IRNA, Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh detailed his recent trip to Turkey and his attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) agriculture ministers’ meeting in Kyrgyzstan. He said he held extensive meetings with his Turkish counterpart and senior Turkish officials, adding that "the significant increase in agricultural exchanges over the past year is the reason both sides agreed to continue and expand joint cooperation."
Nouri-Qezeljeh also addressed his participation in the SCO gathering, emphasizing that discussions focused on food security and the strategic role of member states, which collectively represent more than 40 percent of the global population.
During his diplomatic engagements, the minister met with representatives from 10 to 12 participating countries and organizations. He noted that a unified position emerged regarding recent geopolitical developments, stating that "condemnation of recent US and Israeli actions against Iran was a common stance" among the attendees.
The US-Israeli aggression, among the primary sites struck, targeted civilian and infrastructure positions.
On the regional front, Nouri-Qezeljeh held consultations with the provincial governors of Turkey’s Agri and Igdir regions. Both sides emphasized the need to facilitate border traffic, strengthen local border markets, and advance efforts to establish a joint free trade zone. He added that the Iranian president has given special attention to this area of bilateral cooperation.