Erdoğan Urges Transparency in Tehran's Nuclear Program After Baku Meeting with Ahmadi-Nejad

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad in Baku at the Iranian leader's request, the two discussing both the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Iran's nuclear activities.

Erdoğan stated that Türkiye holds no objection to the peaceful use of nuclear energy by any nation, while making clear that the spread of nuclear weapons is another matter entirely. He urged the Iranian president to maintain a transparent nuclear program.

Ahmadi-Nejad told Erdoğan that Iran's nuclear work is intended solely for civilian purposes, asserting: "We have a right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." Turkish officials said Ahmadi-Nejad expressed views on peaceful nuclear use that aligned with Türkiye's own position.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.