Spuring US-imposed sanctions, Dincer calls Iran Turkey's "natural business partner"

Iran is Turkey's natural business partner, said a top Turkish business leader yesterday, spurning new US sanctions on Turkey's neighbor. The remarks by Turkish-American Business Council leader Haluk Dincer came on the same week Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan declared that it is up to Turkish firms to decide whether to abide by the sanctions. Bucking US pressure not to sell to Iran, Dincer said that Iran and Turkey are natural partners who need each other. He added that the annual joint meeting of the council and the American Friends of Turkey will be held next month in Washington. The meeting was postponed due to a resolution on the so-called Armenian "genocide" passing a US congressional committee earlier this year.