Europe can benefit from cordial relations with Iran if Turkey joins EU

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Monday that if Turkey joins the European Union (EU), Iran will be the union's largest neighbor and the EU will benefit from cordial relations with Tehran, the local satellite Press TV reported. "We believe that Iran and the EU can complement one another and the (European) Union's need for Iran is real," Salehi was quoted as saying. He said that Iran has always had good relations with many European countries and establishing relations with the union has been a priority of Iran's foreign policy, said the report. Iran has criticized the EU for following the U.S. foreign policy in dealing with Iran. The EU has approved tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, including restrictions on the banking and insurance industries, the transport and investment in new oil and gas fields, and technical assistance to the oil and gas development.