Iran's Ahmadinejad praises Turk PM on Israel stance

By Reza Derakhshi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised visiting Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday for his "clear stance against" Israel, Iran's state media reported.

Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly predicted Israel's imminent demise, blamed foreign states for regional problems and called for an expansion of Tehran-Ankara ties. His comments appeared aimed at the West, including Turkey's ally the United States.

"The more regional countries expand their ties and get closer to each other, the more they can remove their problems and limit the ill-wishers which have plots against them," state broadcaster IRIB quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Erdogan.

"Iran-Turkey cooperation would benefit both countries, the region and the whole Islamic world," he said.

Erdogan has steadily expanded NATO member Turkey's influence in the Middle East since his Islamist-rooted AK Party took power in 2002. He arrived in Iran, a major oil producer, on Monday as part of a two-day visit that coincides with worsening ties between Turkey and its regional ally Israel.

"Your clear stance against the Zionist regime had a positive impact in the world which undoubtedly made all nations happy," Ahmadinejad said in the meeting, IRIB reported. Iran does not recognise Israel, which it refers to as the Zionist state.

Erdogan's visit to Iran comes two weeks after Turkey barred Israel from a NATO exercise, a decision that angered Israel and prompted rare criticism from the United States.

Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel have suffered since Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip last winter, in which Erdogan accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity.