Turkey weighing aftermath of US quitting Iran deal: Çavuşoğlu

ISFAHAN- Anadolu Agency

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 June 21.

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

Çavuşoğlu 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.       

During the visit, Çavuşoğlu 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 Çavuşoğlu, from now on the two diplomats will meet every six months for consultations.       

He had arrived in Isfahan a day earlier, on June 20, for a working visit at the invitation of Zarif.       

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