Iran foreign minister hails relations with Turkey

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday hailed his country’s relations with Turkey.

"Turkey is a leading country among those we have good relations with," he told Iran’s state television.

The top Iranian diplomat said Tehran would cooperate with Ankara to put off wildfire in the Iraqi part of Hour al-Azim wetland.

He said his country would hold talks with Turkey and Iraq in an effort to resolve environment and water-related troubles in the region.

Zarif said recent economic difficulties in Turkey were triggered by the psychological atmosphere created by the U.S.

Turkey-U.S. relations took a nosedive on Aug. 1, when the Trump administration announced sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers after Ankara refused to release an American pastor who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.

On Aug. 10, Trump upped the ante by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.

In response, Turkey raised tariffs on several U.S.-made goods, including alcohol and tobacco products as well as vehicles.

Political tensions between Ankara and Washington had sparked worries in markets, but the Turkish lira has staged a recovery last week, after positive messages from European capitals and Qatar’s decision to invest $15 billion in Turkey.