IRNA � Like Germany and France, Iran and Turkey can be the initiators of a united Middle East, former Iranian envoy in Ankara said.


'After an era of tensions, the relations between Iran and Turkey are improving and the peoples of these two important countries should expect good days to come,' Bahman Hosseinpour told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday.

He pointed to the Astana negotiations on establishing peace in Syria and called important in promoting relations between the two neighboring countries.

'President Hassan Rouhani's upcoming visit to Turkey will become a turning point in both countries' ties,' he said.

Elaborating on Iran and Turkey consultations on the developments in northern Iraq, he said defeating the conspiracy to disintegrate Iraq is a sign of good relations between Tehran and Ankara.

'Holding referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan Region was a strategic mistake which should not have been done by Mr. Masoud Barzani,' he added.

Iranian former diplomat referred to Iran-Turkey common positions and cooperation as the main reason for Barzani's defeat in the project.

Disintegration is subject to defeat as a result of maintaining cooperation between Iran and Turkey, Hosseinpour said referring to partition as the favorite scenario for Tel Aviv.