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Iran said Monday that its relations with Türkiye remain strong amid reports of U.S. sanctions pressure and Ankara’s ability to pay for Iranian natural gas.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran's relations with neighboring countries, particularly Türkiye, remain at the desired level, while rejecting what he described as "media efforts to create tensions in regional ties."
Asked about reports that Türkiye could no longer pay Iran for natural gas because of U.S. sanctions and that Iran could receive only medicine and food in exchange for gas exports, Baghaei said the issue was being discussed.
"These issues are being raised," Baghaei said.
He added that much of what he called the "media atmosphere" surrounding Iran’s relations with other countries, including neighboring states, was aimed at creating tension.
Baghaei said the U.S. is seeking to enforce its sanctions, including by pressuring Iran’s trading partners and countries in the region.
"I do not claim that the United States is not trying to enforce its unjust sanctions, including through pressure on Iran’s trading partners and countries in the region," he said.
He also said Iran was witnessing a broad media campaign aimed at increasing the impact of what he called the U.S. economic war.
"We are witnessing a broad media campaign to multiply the effectiveness of their economic war, and this is where we must be careful not to be overwhelmed by media fabrications and falsehoods," Baghaei noted.
He said Iran’s relations with neighboring countries were good, particularly with Türkiye, and that Tehran would use diplomatic channels and consultations to prevent U.S. measures from achieving their objectives.
"Our relations with neighboring countries are good, particularly with Türkiye, and we will certainly use all diplomatic tools and consultations to prevent the realization of America’s actions and the achievement of their objectives, which are certainly contrary to both international law and human rights," he said.
Baghaei also addressed ongoing contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Asked whether the contacts were limited to passing messages between Washington and Tehran or were part of broader mediation efforts to reduce tensions, Baghaei said Iran and Türkiye had a wider relationship.
"With Türkiye, as two neighbors and two partners, we certainly have much more important work than merely being concerned with transmitting and exchanging messages," he said.
Baghaei described relations between Iran and Türkiye as "excellent" in all areas and said communication between the two foreign ministers was continuous.
He said the countries shared common interests based on longstanding ties between the two nations, as well as concerns and views on several issues.
"We have common concerns and views on many issues, particularly regarding the domination-seeking policies of the Israeli regime and the crimes that this regime is committing in various countries of the region and the Levant," he said.
Baghaei said the two foreign ministers used their regular communication to discuss a broad range of issues.
On Saturday, Fidan and Araghchi discussed the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations aimed at ending conflicts in the region, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
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