IRNA- Iran is willing to cooperate with Turkey to provide security of the Gulf of Aden should the country express readiness, the Iranian Army's deputy commander for coordination affairs said on Wednesday.


The presence of the Islamic Republic in the Gulf of Aden is aimed at providing security for the shipping lines,' Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said at a ceremony held to mark Iran's defensive achievements over the past 40 years since the inception of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Admiral Sayyari said that all the countries whose merchant ships and tankers use the sea route passing through the Gulf of Aden are engaged in the region to provide security for their vessels.

'If Turkey is also taking part for ensuring security, we are willing to cooperate,' he said.

Answering another question on Iran-Turkey regional cooperation to combat terrorism, he urged fostering further cooperation to stop terrorists.

'If terrorism is not controlled in the region, all the countries will be hurt,' he stressed.

'In order for us to curb terrorism in the region, we need to promote sincere and honest cooperation among the countries that are familiar with terrorism and know about its nature and roots,' the Iranian Army commander said, adding that in this way countries can defeat terrorism.