Turkey to consider mediating between Iran, U.S. if requested

The Turkish foreign minister arrived in the Iranian capital of Tehran to attend the 18th Foreign Ministers Council Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Â

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in Ankara for talks with Babacan, President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, said Saturday in an interview on broadcaster CNNTurk that Washington would seek Turkey’s assistance for President Barack Obama's plan to engage Iran. "We're going to require your help with Iran, especially in terms of affecting a change in Iran's stance," she said.      Â

 

Turkey wants to use the mechanism of dialogue in resolving issues pertaining to Iran, Babacan told reporters prior to his departure from Ankara.

 

 "We can contribute to bringing relations between the two countries to a much better place, and our hope is that this search for dialogue will bring concrete results," he was quoted by Anatolian Agency as saying.

 

Turkey has said it can help resolve the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program between the United States, its traditional ally, and its neighbor Iran, with which it also enjoys good ties.

 

Babacan is expected to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday and hold meetings with other officials during his visit to the neighboring country.

 

The Turkish foreign minister will hold bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of ECO countries during his stay in Tehran.

 

He will also accompany Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the 10th Leaders Summit of ECO in Tehran on March 11.