Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov arrived in Iran Monday on a trip aimed at bolstering his central Asian nation\'s relations with Iran, state-run Tehran radio reported. Niyazov, on a two-day state visit, held talks with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami immediately after his colorful arrival ceremony at Saadabad Palace in northern Tehran, the radio reported. \"Tehran welcomes the expansion of ties with its neighbors based on mutual respect, safeguarding common interests and promotion of cooperation,\" Khatami told Niyazov. \"Turkmenistan\'s stability will benefit Iran too.\" Niyazov said he expected to sign nine protocols aimed at boosting mutual ties. The radio also quoted Niyazov as saying Turkmenistan had similar views to Iran on a legal regime for the Caspian Sea. The five littoral Caspian states of Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia are divided on how to divide the energy rich Caspian Sea, which is believed to contain the world\'s third largest reserves of oil and gas. (AP)