IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu has issued a statement after US President Donald Trump signed a decision to re-enforce sanctions on Iran. Zeytinoğlu stated that the sanctions that have begun to be reapplied to Iran are critical for Turkey. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu drew attention to the importance of economic and commercial relations with Iran for Turkish business world and emphasised that Iran is the main transit country in Turkey’s trade with Central Asia and even in its transportation to the Gulf countries. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated: “It is a pity for us to be talking about the US sanctions on Iran in a very short time after the removal of the sanctions. Iran is an important neighbour in terms of both economic and commercial relations and energy imports. It is Turkey's one of the most important regional trade partners and one of the major energy suppliers.”

By pointing out to Turkey’s sensitivities, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu also stated: “We’re anxious regarding the damage which the sanctions on Iran will cause on Turkish economy. Even in the past, it was Turkey which was damaged the most by the similar sanctions on Iraq and Iran. We don’t want to encounter with a similar situation. Our relevant institutions should carry out the necessary works in order to prevent our country from being damaged by the possible sanctions.”

Chairman Zeytinoğlu: "The EU and Turkey are in the same position on Iran sanctions"

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu also commented on the joint statement made by the EU, France, the UK and Germany on 6 August 2018 regarding the US sanctions on Iran, that they are committed to protecting European companies which do business with Iran.

According to Zeytinoğlu, Trump’s decisions to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal have made the separation between the US and Europe much more visible. IKV Chairman indicated that it is positive that a consensus has been reached during US President Trump's meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker regarding the trade of non-automobile industrial products; however he underlined that this does not mean that all problems are over.

Zeytinoğlu also pointed out that trade agreements between the EU countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain along with private companies with Iran are worth nearly 600 billion dollars. Zeytinoğlu stated: “The relations international powers and global companies built with Iran following the nuclear deal are not temporary but are based on multi-faceted interests. In this regard, it is difficult for Trump's Iran policy to receive the expected support from the international community, especially from the EU. Global capital would not profit in this orientation, unlike the assumptions.”