Relations between Tehran and Ankara have improved in recent years and the Mediterranean country will most likely expand ties with Iran in the coming year as it strives to achieve its economic development targets, an expert on Turkish affairs said.
Turkey is one of the most important Middle East countries with a substantial role in facilitating Iran’s economic development, especially at present when the country is in dire need of closer cooperation with an influential neighbor in the face of renewed US sanctions.
Rahman Qahremanpour elaborated on Iran-Turkey relations in 2018 and the prospects for 2019 in a recent interview with the Iranian Diplomacy news website.
Following the failed coup in 2016 and Tehran’s firm support for the Turkish government as well as international diplomatic peace talks that eased tensions over the Syrian crisis and the two states’ similar approach to the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, Tehran and Ankara began to experience an improvement in relations, according to the analyst.
“Another important factor that caused the two countries to pursue bilateral relations more seriously was the US measures against Iran,” he said.
Turkey’s Domestic Considerations
Washington has not only revived the sanctions lifted under the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement after withdrawing from the deal in May, but is also placing stricter restrictions on states that do business with Tehran.
Turkey, however, is unlikely to respond to the US call as it did not do so in previous rounds of anti-Iran measures.
“Neither in the 1980s, nor in the early 2010s did Turkey play a part in US sanctions on Iran,” Qahremanpour said, adding that Ankara has so far openly announced that it will not abide by the new round of sanctions either.
Turkey, as in previous years, is set to take this opportunity to address its domestic economic issues through closer cooperation with Iran.
“In 2019, Turkey has increased collaboration with Iran on its agenda,” he said.
Besides, after the 2016 attempted coup, Turkish authorities, according to Qahremanpour, seem to have reached consensus on adopting a policy of multilateralism to lessen reliance on Europe and the US.
“Ankara believes that it should tap into the potential of all regional and non-regional countries for Turkey’s growth and development,” he said.
“As a key player in the Middle East, Tehran could greatly contribute to the realization of this goal,” he added, predicting that relations with the West will not force Turkey to confront Iran.
