Turkey, Iran, Qatar sign transportation deal

By Elahe Salari and Murat Karadag

TEHRAN

Turkey, Iran, and Qatar on Sunday signed a transportation pact aimed at boosting trade between the three countries.

Turkey's Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Shariatmadari, and Qatari counterpart Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani were in the Iranian capital Tehran to sign the agreement.

The deal is expected to help accelerate commodity delivery and facilitate trade between the three nations.

Under the agreement, Iran will be the transit country between Turkey and Qatar.

Zeybekci on Sunday also attended the closing ceremony of the Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Commission.

Stressing both countries' strong economies, Zeybekci said a free trade deal between Ankara and Tehran could pave the way for hundreds of new companies.

During the commission meeting, the countries also reportedly signed a bilateral deal in the field of engineering which targets $10 billion in annual trade.