Turkey expects nuke deal to lead to lifting of sanctions on Iran

ANKARA

AA Photo

The Turkish government has voiced its expectation that the tentative Iranian nuclear deal could mark the first step toward the lifting of sanctions on Iran.

Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said the deal, which could pave the way for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, would help boost Turkey’s exports to its neighbor and help bring down global oil prices.

Speaking to private broadcaster NTV on April 3, Şimşek said Ankara looked favorably on the initial agreement between Tehran and other world powers aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.

He added that this could pave the way for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, which would not only boost Turkish exports to its neighbor but also help bring down global oil prices.

Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, meanwhile, claimed that Turkey has so far made the biggest contribution to the eventual removal of economic sanctions on Iran under such a deal.

However, the deal does not lead to removal of all sanctions, Yıldız also emphasized, in remarks delivered to state-run Anadolu Agency on April 3.

“There are sanctions that stem only from the nuclear [program]. For example, they did not announce whether [the sanctions lifting] will also spread to oil and natural gas,” he said, adding that despite such flaws the deal is still “significant” for Iran’s oil supply to the world markets.

Turkey believes that a “sustainable structure” cannot be maintained while economic sanctions remain in place, Yıldız said, adding that “threats and opportunities involving this issue should be separately reviewed.”