Soylu’s remarks came during a news conference after a security meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli in Tehran.

“To create peace and prosperity as well as lasting security in the region it is essential that the two major building blocks of a large civilization - Iran and Turkey - come together, especially in security matters,” Soylu said.

The interior minister said he and Fazli discussed issues such as terrorism, immigration, border issues, drugs trafficking and organized crime, Hurriyet daily news reported.

For his part, Iranian interior minister said Turkey and Iran shared common concerns. “The two countries have achieved success in security,” he said.

“With cooperation between Iran, Turkey and other regional states, we will end new tensions,” Fazli said, citing the example of the Islamic State nt (IS).

“An advanced relationship in trade, politics, economy, and security between the two countries could set an example for the entire region and create infrastructure for regional peace,” he added.

Reporter’s code: 50101