Iranian FM discusses regional developments with Turkish leaders

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed on Friday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul bilateral relations, regional and international developments, namely the Syrian crisis. According to Turkish news agency (Ihlas), talks between the two sides took place after they participated in the 60th Conference by Pugwash, a non-governmental organization active in the field of nuclear disarmament and international security. Ihlas added that Zarif also flew with Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu from Istanbul to Ankara to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss regional and international developments. The two ministers are scheduled to hold a joint press conference on the results of their discussions. Turkish-Iranian relations witnessed disparity of views on the Syrian crisis. Turkey insists on the removal of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, while Iran deems it necessary he stays in office in the coming transitional period. The Iranian minister arrived in Turkey earlier today, the first visit of its kind of a senior Iranian official after the recent Iranian presidential elections