Shafaq News/ Turkiye and Iran’sgeopolitical rivalry has escalated over the past three months, with bothnations maneuvering for greater regional influence.
Firas Elias, a professor ofpolitical science at the University of Mosul and an expert in Iranian-Turkishaffairs, told Shafaq News that while Turkiye and Iran have historically avoideddirect confrontation, they have persistently worked to undermine each other’spositions in Iraq and Syria, noting that “deep-rooted distrust remains betweenthe two nations, making Iran’s efforts to rebuild ties with Ankara increasinglydifficult.”
Elias emphasized that Iraq will bethe next battleground for Iranian-Turkish tensions. “Ankara is determined toremove the PKK from Iran’s sphere of influence. As Turkiye consolidates itsposition in Iraq and Syria, Iran faces a shrinking geopolitical footprint,” heexplained.
Diplomatic clashes and militaryconfrontations have shaped the two countries’ relations since January 2025.Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan publicly criticized Iran’s “expansionistpolicies,” arguing that Tehran’s involvement in Iraq and Syria has been costlywith little strategic gain. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson EsmaeilBaqaei dismissed the claims, accusing Turkiye of ignoring US and Israeliinvolvement in regional instability.
Iran summoned the Turkish ambassadorin February over Ankara’s military buildup in northern Iraq, particularly nearSinjar and Makhmur, where Iran-backed militias hold sway. Turkiye, in turn,summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires, denouncing Iranian-backed “destabilizationefforts” in Iraq.
Tensions spiked by March afterTurkish airstrikes targeted Iranian-aligned factions’ positions in Syria,prompting Tehran to accuse Ankara of “violating Syria’s sovereignty.”Meanwhile, Iran-backed groups in Iraq threatened retaliation against Turkish forces.
The recent SDF-Damascus agreementhas weakened Iran’s influence in Syria, stripping it of a key bargaining tool,according to experts. The deal, announced Monday, coincided with Turkiye’sintensified military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) andits affiliates in Iraq and Syria.
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