Israeli Embassy in Turkmenistan: At the Edge of Iran

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated a permanent embassy for his country in Turkmenistan on Thursday, establishing Israel's diplomatic presence closest to Iran amid efforts to strengthen relations with countries neighboring the Islamic Republic. Cohen described his visit as "historic," during which he met with Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, stating, "We intend to expand economic relations to include agriculture, water, technology, and border defense. There is no doubt that both countries will benefit from strengthening cooperation." He added, "I came to open an Israeli embassy just 17 kilometers from the border with Iran and to hold a series of meetings with the president and other officials." For his part, Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov noted that the opening of the embassy is "a very bright example of our friendship."