TEHRAN -- First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref here Sunday stressed on the need for Tehran-Ankara cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region and the world, IRNA reported.

In a meeting with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, he referred to the sensitive regional situation and close stance of the two countries on several regional developments.

He also said that cooperation between the two countries is needed to resolve the situation in Iraq and the caucuses and voiced Iran's readiness to participate with the neighboring countries on the reconstruction drive in Afghanistan.

He said that establishing bilateral trade council, strengthening of economic commission, expanding the private sector in the two countries and activating expert committees, will boost economic ties.

Aref alluded to the importance of export of Iranian gas to Europe via a pipeline in Turkey as an example of suitable cooperation between the two countries.

The Turkish foreign minister also called for expansion of bilateral ties in all areas, notably in economic and trade affairs.

He stressed on the role of the two nations' private sector in further cementing bilateral economic ties and on the strengthening of the joint economic commission.

He said that Iran and Turkey have close views on many regional issues, specially the Iraqi crisis, and stressed on cooperation between the two countries on the Afghan reconstruction drive.

Meanwhile, Gurel here Sunday rejected a military option for the change of government in Iraq, saying that the crisis has to be settled peacefully.

"Any change in the Iraqi government must come from the people of that country," he said in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi.

Gurel's statements were echoed by Kharrazi who called for consultations among regional countries on the issue to prevent a 'major regional crisis'.

"The Iraqi regime is unpredictable. It has caused a lot of damage to the region with its incursions in the past two decades. Despite this, no foreign country has the right to interfere in that country's affairs," he said.

Gurel arrived here late Saturday on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues with Iranian officials. His visit follows Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's trip to Iran in June.