Iran defense chief in Turkey for ‘unprecedented’ talks

Iran’s military chief of staff is in Ankara Tuesday for “unprecedented” talks with Turkey’s leadership reportedly aimed at narrowing differences on the Syria crisis and coordinating policy on Iraq.

General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri is due to meet Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his three-day visit.

He kicked off the visit by meeting his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, the state-run Anadolu news agency says.

Pro-government Turkish Daily Sabah quote diplomatic sources as saying the visit was a “milestone” and would not have been possible unless both sides were willing to make deals on both Syria and Iraq.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency meanwhile describe the visit as “unprecedented” in the history of bilateral relations.

“This trip was necessary for better consultation and cooperation on various military and regional issues,” Bagheri says in a statement to state Iranian broadcaster IRIB, citing border security and the fight against terror.

— AFP

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