Davutoglu meets top Iranian officials to push for diplomatic solution to Iranian nuke issue

Amid mounting US-led efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Iran for its controversial nuclear program, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday met with top Iranian officials in Tehran in a bid to again push for a diplomatic solution. Davutoglu was received by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and also met with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, National Security Council Secretary Said Jalili, and Parliament Speaker and former top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani. Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with Mottaki, Davutoglu underlined the urgent need for a uranium swap deal between Iran and major Western powers, saying this could improve the international atmosphere on the issue. Stressing that Turkey is ready to whatever is needed towards that end, he added, "Through diplomatic efforts, Turkey is trying to forestall possible negative developments that could harm both the region and our countries. We're exchanging views on new alternatives to avert negative possibilities." Declining to elaborate on what he called "new alternatives" to solve the issue, Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's determination to broker a possible exchange of Iran's low-grade uranium stockpile with high-grade uranium provided by Western countries. Stating that Turkey would continue its efforts to cool tensions, Davutoglu said, "Turkey will be the first country (after Iran) to feel the positive or negative effects of developments in Iran. Accordingly, we're working to ensure a solution to this issue that will make seeking tougher sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council unnecessary." Turkey is currently a temporary member of the council. Davutoglu also said that the two countries have significantly boosted their energy cooperation, including projects in Iran's giant South Pars natural gas field. In 2008 Iran and the Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPAO) signed a $7 billion agreement under which the Turkish side undertook to produce 20.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from South Pars. Last October Iran gave TPAO a one-month deadline to finalize the deal, but extended the deadline by three months. Davutoglu said work was continuing to finalize the deal, brushing aside claims that it would be cancelled. "Turkey sees this agreement as a key element of energy cooperation with Iran," he said. For his part, Mottaki said last year the Turkish-Iranian trade volume hit $11 billion, and has the potential to reach $20 billion in the years to come. Turkey and Iran enjoy good trade ties, Mottaki said, calling for further improvement of economic cooperation between the neighboring countries.