Diplomatic Tensions Between Iran and Turkey; Both Parties Summon Each Other's Diplomats

The governments of Iran and Turkey have stated that they have summoned each other's diplomats. The recent tension in the relationship between the two neighbors escalated after Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, criticized Tehran's policy of supporting militia groups in Syria and other countries. According to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Monday, March 4, Mahmoud Heydari, a senior advisor to the Iranian Foreign Minister, emphasized the need to avoid what he called 'inappropriate remarks and unrealistic analyses' during a meeting with the Turkish ambassador in Tehran, warning that such actions could lead to disagreements and tensions in bilateral relations. The statement noted that the Iranian Foreign Minister's advisor told the Turkish ambassador that Islamic countries should focus their efforts on stopping 'the crimes and aggressions of Israel' in Palestinian and Syrian territories. In response to this action, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires in Ankara on Tuesday, March 5. According to Oncu Keceli, the spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Iranian diplomat was reminded that foreign policy issues should not be used for domestic political objectives, and instead of publicly raising such matters, it is better to consult directly with Turkish officials. Last week, Hakan Fidan, in an interview with Al Jazeera, criticized Tehran's foreign policy of relying on militia groups in the Middle East, describing this approach as a 'dangerous strategy' and urging Iranian officials to reconsider this policy. Hakan Fidan specifically warned that: 'If you seek to create unrest by supporting certain groups in another country, another country may also support similar groups in your country, causing unrest there.' The tension between the two neighboring countries has escalated as the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has reduced Tehran's influence in the country while simultaneously increasing Ankara's influence. The new Islamist government in Syria considers Iranian-backed militias as a 'threat.' Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokesperson for the Iranian government, described Hakan Fidan's remarks as 'unconstructive' and expressed hope that 'such comments will not be repeated.' At the same time, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized what he called 'Iran's policy based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,' stating that Tehran - according to him - will not allow any country to undermine historical and deep regional relations with 'thoughtless remarks.' He urged Turkish officials to avoid statements that could 'undermine the relations between the two countries' while adhering to 'diplomatic decorum.' Previously, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry had referred to the role of Israel in the region and Turkey's reaction to it in response to the Turkish Foreign Minister's remarks that no one, including Iranians, should seek 'domination, interference, or threats' in the region.