President Gul: "Iran's trade woes are internal"

Domestic policy, not the US embargo, is the biggest obstacle to Iran expanding its trade with other countries, President Abdullah Gul reportedly told Turkish businessmen accompanying him in Tehran yesterday. With Iran and Turkey determined to boost their political and economic ties, more than 100 Turkish businessmen are accompanying Gul on his current four-day visit to Iran. Turkey aims to increase its trade with Iran from $10 billion to $30 billion, Gul reportedly told the businessmen, without giving a timeframe. Gul told a joint press conference yesterday with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the two countries held detailed discussions on key issues of mutual interest and made important decisions, Agence France-Presse reported. "We decided to give orders to our respective parties to remove all obstacles" hindering bilateral cooperation, Gul said. Speaking at the same press conference, Ahmadinejad said Turkey and Iran share similar views on regional peace, security and development, adding that their cooperation could transform the region into an economic, political and cultural powerhouse. "Our relations with Turkey are deep, permanent and brotherly, and they have made significant progress in many areas in recent years," Ahmadinejad told reporters. He also took the opportunity to publicly thank Gul for Turkey's position on "Iran's nuclear rights," adding that Iran and Turkey are determined to strengthen both political and economic ties.