Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in Turkey for two days of talks.
Shortlyafter his arrival in Istanbul Thursday, Mr. Ahmadinejad met with hisTurkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, for closed-door talks. The two areexpected to hold a news conference later Thursday.
The Iranian leader is scheduled to meet Friday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Iran'sstate news agency, IRNA, says the Turkish and Iranian leaders willaddress issues of mutual interest and the latest regional andinternational developments.
The visit is President Ahmadinejad's first to neighboring Turkey since he took office in August 2005.
Turkish officials have called Mr. Ahmadinejad's trip to Istanbul a "working visit."
TheIranian leader will not go to the Turkish capital, Ankara, whereprotocol for state visits calls for placing a wreath at the mausoleumof Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the secular founder of modern Turkey.
Last week, Israel protested against Mr. Ahmadinejad's visit to Turkey, saying it would give him unwarranted legitimacy.
The Iranian president has called for Israel's destruction and has questioned the Holocaust.
Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries with close ties to Israel.