( CNN ) -- Iran and Turkey signed a trade pact Sunday , one which Tehran said could be worth $ 30 billion over five years and signaled even stronger ties between the two nations . Both nation 's leaders touted the agreement as something that could provide huge mutual economic benefit , according to their respective state media . Tehran , especially , played up the deal as evidence of a new era in relations . `` Iran and Turkey are two countries that complete each other , '' Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said , according to Turkey 's official Anadolu news . The agreement capped the nations ' 22nd annual joint economic meeting , evidence that Tehran and Ankara have a long working relationship . Still , it comes amid Iran 's nuclear tensions with the United States -- a staunch ally of Turkey . In an account from Iran 's official IRNA news agency , Salehi said the agreement and other recent moves indicate that Turkey is committed to bolstering its ties with Middle Eastern nations . `` Ankara is strengthening its relations with its neighboring countries , particularly the Islamic republic of Iran , '' Salehi said . The Iranian foreign minister further proposed an even greater union to advance both nations ' interests , according to Press TV , Iranian state media . Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz noted that trade between his nation and Iran has risen from $ 1 billion to $ 10.7 billion in the past decade . Still , he said that it could go even further , with Sunday 's pact to ratchet down protectionist measures and promote cooperation potentially instrumental to that cause . Also Sunday , Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with the head of Syria , another U.S. nemesis , according to reports from state media in both nations . In an official statement published on Syria 's state-run Sana news agency , President Bashar al-Assad said that he and his Turkish counterpart `` stressed the importance of continuing work and coordination by the two countries through high-level transparent dialogue . '' In a speech marking the laying of the cornerstone of the Friendship Dam , along the nation 's border with Syria , Erdogan said that Turkey wanted peace , stability and prosperity , according to an Anadolu report .
Iran and Ankara ink a pact Sunday to increase trade between the countries . Iran 's foreign minister says : ` ` Iran and Turkey ... complete each other '' A Turkish minister says the trade deal should help both countries ' economies . Also yesterday , Turkey 's premier met with the president of Syria , reports say .