The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Wednesday that Turkish businessmen would benefit from Iran's political support for their activities in Iran, semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported.

While meeting with Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu on Wednesday, Mottaki said that inspired with the political support, the trade volume between Turkey and Iran would reach five billion US dollars in 2005 compared with 4.5 billion dollars last year.

Regarding Iranian natural gas, Mottaki said that Turkey needs natural gas and Iran has one of the biggest sources.

"The project on sale of Iranian natural gas to Turkey was implemented and the problems in this project will be eliminated," he added.

Mottaki said that the new Iranian government which took power after June presidential elections is willing to strengthen the relations between the two countries.

TOBB deputy Chairman Halim Mete said, "bureaucratic obstacles which restrict investment and commerce activities of businessmen should be eliminated, and also mutual trade and investments should be supported to diversify and balance trade volume between Turkey and Iran."

Mottaki arrived in Ankara on Wednesday on a two-day working visit.

Mottaki was the Iranian Ambassador to Turkey between 1986 and 1989.

Source: Xinhua