Tasnim - Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Hakan Tekin deplored the US renewed sanctions against the Islamic Republic as illegal, saying his country will not comply with the move.


�We will do our best to prevent Tehran-Ankara relations from being affected by the US sanctions against Iran,� Tekin who was in Ankara to attend at the 10th annual Ambassadors, told the Anadolu news agency.

�We will not abide by anti-Iran unilateral and illegal sanctions,� he noted.

He underlined the important role of the Islamic Republic of Iran as Turkey's energy partner and said Turkey has imported nearly 50 percent of its crude oil from Iran.

He said Turkey complies with sanctions that are in line with the international laws, adding, �Our country has always adhered to this criterion, but unilateral sanctions that are against the stance of the international community are not legitimate and binding.�

In late July, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevl�t �avu?o?lu also stated his country�s opposition regarding sanctions on Iran and said that Turkey is not obliged to abide by sanctions imposed by the US, the UK or any other country

Turkey's overall trade with Iran has been decreasing since 2013 following the sanctions. While bilateral trade between the countries exceeded $20 billion in 2012, it saw a dramatic fall to $14 billion. Recorded at $9 billion in 2016, bilateral trade with Iran gained momentum in 2017 and rose to $10.7 billion.

Turkey and Iran have also discussed trading in local currencies as an alternative medium of exchange to dollar and issued the first letter of credit in the form of a national currency swap to exchange Iranian rial and Turkish lira in April.