A series of outstandingly sharp affirmations over the past several days from both Turkey and Iran have brought relations between the 2 neighbors — which have held ameliorating till recently even at the expense of angering Turkey’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization friend the United States — to what one might call a historic low.
Turkey hit back with a heavy affirmation at recent comments from Iranian officials, including the country’s chief of General Staff who has told that “it will be its turn” if Turkey carries on “help advance the warmongering policies of the United States in Syria.” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called comments by Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi “unfortunate” and denied his country has meddled in Syrian affairs.
But actions speak louder than words and if the exchange of new accusations isn’t enough to exemplify how deep the tensions are, a new decision by Iran to suspend a visa-free travel regime with Turkey had better do it. For the first time since the visa-free regime first went into force in 1964, Iran suspended it last week, citing security concerns in the run-up to a summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran as an apologise.
“Visa regime is a footstep which shines the tensions between Iran and Turkey. Apparently, Iran’s attitude may be viewed as a opening for the following tensions with Turkey,” Bayram Sinkaya, an expert on Iranian politics and a lecturer in the department of international relations at Yıldırım Beyazıt University in Ankara,said.
Iran has explained this decision as part of the protection cautions it’s taking in connection with the summit in Tehran, which presently controls the three-year circumvolving NAM presidency.
“Iran is a country which has saw war, revolution and numerous revolts, but it never limited visas with Turkey till today. It’s the first time that Iran is meaning visa regime to Turkey with a very weak excuse: security concerns,” said Sinkaya.
Turkey and Iran have ameliorated their colligates recent years, but contradictory policies concerning Syria have constrained Turkish-Iranian relations over the past several months. Turkey is one of the most steadfast supporters of the confrontation forces that are assaying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, while Iran has stood by its friend Syria in spite of growing international pressure on Assad.
“In addition, it’s not the first time Iran is holding an international summit. This step is the reflection of Iran’s discomfort of Turkey’s Middle East policy, especially Syria policy,” told Sinkaya.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday appropriated comments by an Iranian official who charged Ankara for the bloodshed in Syria and warned Turkey would be next, calling the comments unacceptable and incorrect and urging Islamic Republic of Iran to honor its links as neighbors.
The strongly articulated affirmation came in answer to recent threats and affirmations by Iranian officials regarding Turkey’s policies on Syria.
“We strongly condemn statements full of baseless charges and exceptionally inappropriate threats against our country by some Iranian officials,” the statement told. “It is unacceptable and irresponsible that Iranian officials in various posts keep on targeting our country through their affirmations, though Turkey’s principled foreign policy is known to everyone.”
