ANKARA (AFP) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that an icy period in relations with Iran over accusations that Tehran is seeking to undermine Turkey's secular system is left "far behind."

"The days when our ties with Iran were stuck in the 'regime export' pincer are left far behind," Gul said in an interview with a monthly magazine published by his Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkey Bulletin.

Ankara in the past has accused its eastern neighbor of seeking to "export" its Islamic revolution to Turkey. "Our view of Iran is very different today," Gul said. "Our trade volume is constantly improving. More Iranians visit our country. Bilateral contacts are at the highest level and we are making contributions at every platform for the improvement of Iran's ties with third countries."

Gul's AKP is a movement with roots in political Islam.

After years of animosity, Turkey and Iran have markedly improved relations in recent years.

Turkey has noted Tehran's enhanced cooperation in combatting Kurdish separatists, who are also active on Iranian soil.

The turmoil in Iraq, a neighbor to both countries, has also brought them closer, and Ankara has lobbied Tehran to resolve peacefully the row with the West over its nuclear program.