Tehran lifts ban on organization of tourist trips to Turkey

on August 13, 2016 | 20:17:09

Tehran has lifted a ban on Iranian travel agencies to organize tourist trips to Turkey imposed over security concerns after the recent attempted coup in the country, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Turkey on Friday first time since attempted coup in the country to reiterate Tehran’s support to Ankara. There he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

“The Turkish officials have promised to provide security and welfare for the Iranian tourists…Lifting the bans does not mean that the travel agencies are not accountable for providing due services for the Iranian tourists,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi pointed to a day-long visit to Turkey by Zarif on Friday, saying that the trip was “constructive and in line with the interests of the two nations.”

Qassemi added that Iran has lifted the ban on travel agencies to take tourists and visitors to Turkey after the country pledged to provide security and welfare of Iranian tourists.

“Therefore, Iranian travel agencies can organize tourist trips to this neighboring country,” he added.

On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded.

Iran had banned activities of its travel agencies in Turkey due to security concerns following the coup in the country.

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