Iran President Congratulates Turkey's New President

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has extended his congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his new duty as the country's first directly elected president.



"I am very pleased that Erdogan won the Turkish presidential election with a such a good success rate," Rouhani told a press conference on Saturday in the Iranian capital, Tehran.



He said bilateral relations between the two countries would improve during Erdogan's term.



Turkey's 12th president, Erdogan, was elected on August 10, garnering around 52 percent of the vote. He was sworn in on Thursday.



Rouhani also criticized the U.S. for imposing fresh sanctions on companies allegedly violating the existing sanctions.



"This move contradicts the spirit of the Geneva agreement [reached between P5+1 and Iran]," he said.



On Friday, the U.S. announced new sactions on a number of companies allegedy helping Iran build a nuclear program.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Tahran