Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says trilateral cooperation between Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan can “serve peace and stability” in the region.

“Trilateral cooperation between Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey is not only in the interest of the three countries, but also in the interest of the entire region,” Salehi said on Saturday.

Salehi made the remarks in the opening ceremony of the first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan in the northwestern Iranian city of Orumiyeh.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu were also present at the ceremony.

“It [the meeting] can lay the proper foundation for expanding cooperation with other regional countries and serve peace and stability in the region,” Salehi said.

“All three countries stress the necessity of resolving regional disputes in a peaceful and just manner, and believe that expanding relations and economic cooperation in the region could help establish and guarantee peace and stability,” he added.

The Iranian foreign minister said the meeting initiated “a new framework for trilateral cooperation” in culture, trade, industry, and investment sectors.

Mammadyarov said the trilateral summit was an important step towards bringing the three nations closer together.

Davutoglu also stressed the need for boosting trilateral relations.