Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 4.58 — strongly supporting 23 facts
Iran and Türkiye are both identified as influential regional powers in the Middle East [1] that frequently interact through geopolitical competition, diplomatic coordination, and military strategy in areas like Syria {fact:4, fact:7, fact:8, fact:14, fact:22}. Their relationship has fluctuated between periods of tension and conflict {fact:11, fact:12} and efforts toward diplomatic recalibration and regional stability {fact:13, fact:19, fact:21}.
Facts (23)
Sources
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org 21 facts
accountFollowing the 2011 uprisings, regional powers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, and Iran took actions to secure their interests in the unstable environment.
claimTürkiye's support for Islamist movements in Libya, Syria, and Yemen caused its diplomatic, political, trade, and investment relations with most Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran to shift into tensions and conflict.
accountThe Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent military response recentered the Middle East's conflicts on Palestine and led to an escalation of direct and proxy wars involving Israel, Iran, Türkiye, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Syrian factions.
accountTürkiye scaled back military operations in Iraq and reduced financial and military support for Islamist groups across the Middle East and North Africa, leading to improved relations with Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran.
claimTürkiye has achieved strategic gains in Syria by capitalizing on Iran's diminishing influence in the Arab Mashreq.
accountBefore October 7, 2023, regional actors pursued different security strategies: Saudi Arabia sought to ease tensions with Iran, the UAE deepened cooperation with Israel, Egypt prioritized national security, and Türkiye reduced its regional conflict engagement.
claimTürkiye's dual-pronged military strategy in Syria aimed to eliminate Iranian influence in Damascus and address Turkish concerns regarding the existential threat of Kurdish militancy.
claimIran expressed anger toward Türkiye due to Turkish threats against the Iranian-backed Assad regime in Syria.
claimTo achieve long-term objectives in Syria, such as integrating Turkish-backed militias into governance, pressuring Kurdish factions, returning Syrian refugees, and spearheading reconstruction, Türkiye must coordinate with Iran, Israel, Egypt, and Gulf States.
accountBetween 2020 and 2023, Türkiye began a partial retreat from its unilateral support for armed Islamist groups in Syria and took steps to revive trade, investment, and diplomatic relations with Arab governments and Iran.
claimCurrent regional policies often entangle Middle Eastern states in direct or proxy conflicts, such as Israel’s tensions with Iran, Türkiye’s intervention in Syria and Iraq, and the military involvement of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
accountTürkiye participated in the Astana negotiation process alongside Russia and Iran to pursue political solutions for stabilizing the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
accountBefore 2011, Türkiye maintained positive relations with Iraq and Iran and actively fostered trade, economic, and political collaborations with Gulf states, Egypt, and Arab countries in North Africa.
claimThe feasibility of a collective regional security endeavor involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Türkiye, Israel, and Iran depends on overcoming mutual distrust, conflicting strategic goals, and divergent government policies.
claimAbu Dhabi is concerned about the potential fallout from the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, the resurgence of Islamist groups in Syria, and the geopolitical competition among Türkiye, Iran, and Israel in the Arab Mashreq.
claimThe Arab Spring uprisings, occurring between 2011 and 2023, caused radical changes to the foreign policies of six influential regional powers: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Israel, and Iran.
claimIsrael, Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates continue to wield military capabilities in ways that perpetuate cycles of violence and delay meaningful collective action in the Middle East.
claimBenjamin Netanyahu's government is likely aware that regional powers like Türkiye are focused on curtailing Iranian influence in Syria rather than overthrowing the Islamic Republic or dismantling Iran as a state.
claimRecognizing the unsustainable costs of a conflict-driven regional policy, Iran began recalibrating its approach between 2020 and 2023 to restore calm in the region, a shift similar to an earlier pivot by Türkiye.
claimTürkiye executed its 2024 Syria strategy by capitalizing on the weakening of Iranian deterrence and Hezbollah, Russia's distraction with the war in Ukraine, and the diminished organizational capabilities of pro-Iranian forces.
claimMiddle Eastern countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Türkiye, Israel, and Iran wield significant influence beyond their borders through political, military, economic, and diplomatic domains.
Iran at a Crossroads: Legitimacy, External Pressure and Regional ... ciris.info 1 fact
referenceZbigniew Brzezinski, in his book 'The Grand Chessboard,' identifies Turkey and Iran as 'geopolitical pivots,' defined as states whose domestic dynamics can alter the surrounding configuration even without great-power status.
Iran Conflict Brief: The High Cost of Attacking Energy Infrastructure energypolicy.columbia.edu 1 fact
claimA group of foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Turkey issued a joint statement that was directly critical of Iran.