Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei told the visiting Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov Tuesday evening that the Caspian Sea littoral states could strengthen their position by broadening their mutual ties.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the historical and geographical commonalities of the two countries of Iran and Turkmenistan, adding that the grounds are more prepared than before for the two countries to broaden their relations, especially in gas sector and trade.

"Cooperation of the five Caspian Sea littoral states can help transform the region into an active and profitable zone for all these countries," Ayatollah Khamenei urged.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov for his part recalled recommendations of the Islamic Revolution Leader for further relations between the two countries during a meeting held a few months ago, adding that since then Turkmenistan Government had undertook all efforts to deepen the bilateral relations.

Berdymukhamedov praised a letter of cooperation signed earlier in the day to build a railroad connecting Iran, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan as indicative of a serious resolve on the part of the two countries to expand relations in different spheres.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also attending the meeting.