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Turkey weighing aftermath of US quitting Iran deal'

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's visit with Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif comes amid rising tensions with US

Muhammet Kursun  | 21.06.2019 - Update : 21.06.2019
Turkey weighing aftermath of US quitting Iran deal'

ISFAHAN, Iran / ANKARA 

Amid rising tension a year after the U.S. pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran, Turkey is taking stock of the situation, said Turkey’s foreign minister on Friday. 

“We are evaluating the process after the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal with both Europeans and Iran,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Isfahan, central Iran. 

Cavusoglu said he had the opportunity to evaluate regional issues with Zarif and reviewed what could be done about the U.S. sanctions following its withdrawal. 

Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and Iran since May 2018, when Washington unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. 

The U.S. has since embarked on a campaign to pressure Iran to renegotiate the pact, including sanctions on exports of Iranian crude oil, something opposed by a host of countries, including Turkey. 

Last week an attack on ships in the Gulf of Hormuz -- blamed by the U.S. on Iran, a charge Tehran denies -- and Iran’s downing of a U.S. drone on Thursday have further raised fears of a conflict.

During Friday’s visit, Cavusoglu and Zarif also discussed bilateral trade and the possibility of using national currencies rather than the dollar for trade and also signed a plan meant to strengthen cooperation in bilateral, regional, and international relations. 

According to Cavusoglu, from now on the two diplomats will meet every six months for consultations. 

Cavusoglu had arrived in Isfahan a day earlier, on Thursday, for a working visit at the invitation of Zarif. 

Afterwards, Cavusoglu attended a lunch hosted in his honor by Zarif.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic 


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