By the end of the year, Turkey's first astronaut will visit the International Space Station, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday.
Alper Gezeravci, a 43-year-old air force pilot, has been chosen to represent Turkey in space for the first time. Tuva Cihangir Atasever, a 30-year-old aircraft systems engineer with Turkish defence contractor Roketsan, is his standby.
The cargo seizure is the most recent escalation between Washington and Tehran following years of US sanctions pressure over Iran's nuclear programme, which has left the oil markets uneasy. The restrictions are not recognised by Iran, and its oil exports have been increasing.
While Washington believes Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, Tehran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
In his first public appearance since becoming unwell during a TV interview on Tuesday, Erdogan made the statement at the Teknofest aviation and space expo in Istanbul. Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the acting prime minister of Libya, both made an appearance with him.
Erdogan stated that "our friend," who would go on Turkey's first manned space trip, will spend 14 days aboard the International Space Station. During this mission, our astronaut will conduct 13 different experiments that have been planned by renowned academic and research institutions in our nation.