TEHRAN Iran's Commerce Minister, Mohammad Shariatmadari said on Thursday that Iran is to expand its economic and commercial cooperation with the Muslim neighboring states, especially Turkey.

Shariatmadari told the seminar of Iranian and Turkish traders in Ankara that Iran-Turkey transactions have made eye-catching progress after the 1979-Islamic Revolution to the effect that in certain years, he added, the trade exchanges have totalled two billion dollars.

"Besides its cultural commonalty and neighborhood with Iran, Turkey plays a significant role in easing Iran's access to the European markets," he said.

He expressed hope that mutual economic cooperation would keep pace with the political ones and the barriers would be removed.

Expansion of border trade between Iran and Turkey can play an important role in improving living status of border dwellers, creation of jobs and expansion of border areas.

Some 150 Turkish traders and businessmen and 50 Iranian traders were present at the seminar.