ANKARA, Turkey — Diplomatic tensions have heightened between Iran and Turkey as both nations summoned each other’s diplomats for talks following criticisms from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan regarding Iran’s support of militias in Syria and beyond.
On the previous day, a senior adviser to Iran’s foreign minister held a meeting with Turkey’s ambassador to Tehran, expressing the necessity to circumvent “inappropriate remarks and unrealistic analyses that may escalate disputes and tensions in bilateral relations,” as stated by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
The Iranian representative, Mahmoud Heidari, also highlighted the importance of Muslim nations uniting their efforts to address Israel’s “crimes and aggressions” in Palestinian territories and Syria.
In response, Turkey invited the Iranian chargé d’affaires for discussions on Tuesday. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli stated that the Iranian diplomat was advised against utilizing foreign policy for domestic political ambitions, stressing that any grievances should be communicated directly to Turkish officials and not aired publicly.
Fidan had previously aired criticisms in an interview with Al-Jazeera, labeling Iran’s foreign policy of deploying militias throughout the Middle East as a “risky” strategy, advocating for policy changes. He noted the potential backfire of destabilizing another nation, which could provoke similar actions in their country.
The strains between these neighboring countries surface as the Syrian conflict, especially the decline of former President Bashar Assad, shifts the regional power dynamics. With the weakening of Iran’s grip, Turkey’s influence has grown, and the newly empowered Sunni Islamist governance perceives Iran-backed militias as a threat.
Iranian Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani criticized Fidan’s statements as “unconstructive,” expressing hopes that such remarks wouldn’t be repeated.
