Iranian highest-ranking military commander, General Baqeri, called for the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and Turkey to keep conducting joint drills.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri made the remarks in a phone conversation with Turkey's newly-appointed National Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Thursday.

The Iranian commander said Iran and Turkey are "good and strategic" neighbors. �The border between the two countries necessitates the continuation of bilateral cooperation.�

Baqeri invited the new Turkish national defense minister to visit Iran.

On his part, Guler said it was paramount for both countries to improve military cooperation.

The Turkish minister commended Iran's brotherly and friendly assistance to his country's people affected by a devastating earthquake that rocked southern Turkey in February.

Earlier, a senior aide on political affairs to Iran�s foreign minister had said Tehran is ready to play a �constructive role� in promoting reconciliation talks between Turkey and Syria.

He had reiterated the Islamic Republic�s principled stance on pursuing political dialogue to settle the differences between Ankara and Damascus.

Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants.