Turkey’s prime minister has accused the West of treating Iran and its nuclear programme unfairly. Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments came as he began a two-day official visit to Tehran.

The Turkish leader also described international fears that the country wanted to build a bomb as “gossip”. World powers are currently awaiting Iran’s response to a new proposed deal over its uranium enrichment programme. Ankara and its Islamist-rooted government has recently expanded its regional clout in the Middle East has said it favours diplomacy with Iran rather than sanctions. Iran has said it will give its answer to the UN-drafted deal to cut its atomic stockpile, later this week. A four member team from the UN’s Atomic watchdog, the IAEA, has been inspecting Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility- it was only opened to them after international pressure. Iran says the plant is to produce low grade uranium which is suitable only for peaceful purposes.More about: Iran, Turkey

Copyright © 2012 euronews