Tasnim – An Iranian deputy interior minister said Tehran is going to provide Ankara with a draft proposal for the health protocols on the reopening of the common border crossings which have been shut after the coronavirus outbreak, and on the resumption of bilateral trade exchanges.

In a telephone conversation on Thursday, Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaqari and his Turkish counterpart Muhterem Ince discussed the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impacts on the political, economic and social relations of the countries.

In the conversation, Zolfaqari expressed Iran’s readiness to share its experiences in the battle with the coronavirus with neighboring Turkey.

He also noted Iran has drafted a series of health protocols for a phased reopening of the border crossings with Turkey and the resumption of trade exchanges and business ties between the two neighbors, saying the document will be offered to Turkey through diplomatic channels.

In a telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in April, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the Iranian government and nation’s “valuable” coronavirus fight despite the problems they are facing, stressing that trade between the two countries should continue in accordance with health guidelines and that officials must work toward that aim.

In comments on April 20, the spokesperson for Iran’s Customs Office said Turkey has barred all trucks, even the Turkish ones, from entering the country after the outbreak of the coronavirus, noting that the only option left for the trade exchanges between the two neighbors is the railroad via the Razi border crossing.