Iran should cherish Turkey, Erdoğan's friendship
The news that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has abruptly postponed his visit to Turkey created an array of speculation about the state of Turkish-Iranian relations.
There are claims that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, angered by the recent anti-Turkish campaign in the Iranian media, refused to meet with Zarif during his planned visit thus prompting the postponement. The Iranians have said Zarif had to delay his trip to Ankara because he has to pay an urgent unscheduled visit to Lebanon to explain Iran's new plan for peace in Syria and then bring this plan to Turkey.
Whatever the reason for the delay of the Zarif visit, it is clear that Turkish-Iranian relations have taken a step back in recent times as Iran has started the improve its relations with the West and as Iran has progressively followed a policy of expanding its political influence throughout the region.
Iran has been behind many spots of instability in the region creating a Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq, stirring up trouble in Syria, trying to dominate Yemen and provoking Shiite disturbances in the Gulf countries led by Bahrain. Ankara along with Saudi Arabia has been following these developments with distaste to say the least.
However, the fact that the state-controlled Iranian media has been so vocal against Turkey in general and against President Erdoğan and his family members in particular has not only irked the Turkish administration but has created anger and frustration about Tehran in Ankara as it was Erdoğan and his government that stood by Iran at the worst of times as the American-led sanctions battered the Iranian state.
The Iranian media has been insultin
g Erdoğan and his family. They have also been accusing Turkey of siding with the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and they have criticized Turkey's military operations against the PKK. Everyone knows well that the Iranian media is strongly state-controlled and no one can utter a word without the approval of the mullahs. So it is also clear that all this anti-Turkish and anti-Erdoğan rhetoric has the blessing of the Iranian regime.
That is very sad because Turkey has always defended Tehran against the West from the days of the late Turgut Özal until now. Erdoğan has, more than anyone else, defended Tehran and has opposed the sanctions. Erdoğan has allowed Iran's financial arrangements to ease some of the very negative effects of the Western sanctions. It was under Erdoğan's office as prime minister that Turkey brought together Iran and the Western powers on Turkish soil, a meeting that eventually led to the recent nuclear deal. Instead of thanking Erdoğan and Turkey for all this, it is sad that the Iranians have opted to a course of insults, criticism and antagonism.
It seems Iran is not at all happy that Turkey has allowed the Americans to use İncirlik Air Base near the southern city of Adana to hit ISIS forces and also create a safe zone for the Free Syrian Army (FSA). This spoils Iranian plans to dominate Syria as they wish.
Iran should realize that it is better advised to promote peace and understanding in the region than cook up discord and violence.
Iran should work hand in hand with Turkey to prevent a rift between the Sunnis and the Shiites and yet we see with great astonishment that Iranians are more interested in pouring fuel onto the fire rather than putting it out.
There are claims that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, angered by the recent anti-Turkish campaign in the Iranian media, refused to meet with Zarif during his planned visit thus prompting the postponement. The Iranians have said Zarif had to delay his trip to Ankara because he has to pay an urgent unscheduled visit to Lebanon to explain Iran's new plan for peace in Syria and then bring this plan to Turkey.
Whatever the reason for the delay of the Zarif visit, it is clear that Turkish-Iranian relations have taken a step back in recent times as Iran has started the improve its relations with the West and as Iran has progressively followed a policy of expanding its political influence throughout the region.
Iran has been behind many spots of instability in the region creating a Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq, stirring up trouble in Syria, trying to dominate Yemen and provoking Shiite disturbances in the Gulf countries led by Bahrain. Ankara along with Saudi Arabia has been following these developments with distaste to say the least.
However, the fact that the state-controlled Iranian media has been so vocal against Turkey in general and against President Erdoğan and his family members in particular has not only irked the Turkish administration but has created anger and frustration about Tehran in Ankara as it was Erdoğan and his government that stood by Iran at the worst of times as the American-led sanctions battered the Iranian state.
The Iranian media has been insultin
g Erdoğan and his family. They have also been accusing Turkey of siding with the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and they have criticized Turkey's military operations against the PKK. Everyone knows well that the Iranian media is strongly state-controlled and no one can utter a word without the approval of the mullahs. So it is also clear that all this anti-Turkish and anti-Erdoğan rhetoric has the blessing of the Iranian regime.
That is very sad because Turkey has always defended Tehran against the West from the days of the late Turgut Özal until now. Erdoğan has, more than anyone else, defended Tehran and has opposed the sanctions. Erdoğan has allowed Iran's financial arrangements to ease some of the very negative effects of the Western sanctions. It was under Erdoğan's office as prime minister that Turkey brought together Iran and the Western powers on Turkish soil, a meeting that eventually led to the recent nuclear deal. Instead of thanking Erdoğan and Turkey for all this, it is sad that the Iranians have opted to a course of insults, criticism and antagonism.
It seems Iran is not at all happy that Turkey has allowed the Americans to use İncirlik Air Base near the southern city of Adana to hit ISIS forces and also create a safe zone for the Free Syrian Army (FSA). This spoils Iranian plans to dominate Syria as they wish.
Iran should realize that it is better advised to promote peace and understanding in the region than cook up discord and violence.
Iran should work hand in hand with Turkey to prevent a rift between the Sunnis and the Shiites and yet we see with great astonishment that Iranians are more interested in pouring fuel onto the fire rather than putting it out.