Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Iran’s capital Tehran on July 19 and meet with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi and Russian Vladimir Putin in a trilateral meeting that will address many issues, especially the Syrian case. pay
Erdogan’s visit to Iran coincides with Turkey’s announcement of future military operations in northern Syria against armed Kurdish units, and a tripartite meeting between Erdogan, Raisi and Putin on Syria will be held.
Last November, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran, announced that Erdogan would visit Iran at the end of last year, but this did not materialize, but the noteworthy point is which is the postponement of another visit to Iran that was announced last March. At the same time, it was noted that some of Iran’s official trips to Turkey were postponed. Abdullahian was supposed to enter Ankara at the beginning of June last month, but this trip was postponed until the end of the same month. During it, he met with his Turkish counterpart.
The last visit of the Turkish president to Iran was on September 7, 2018, when a summit on Syria was held in the presence of Erdogan, on the sidelines of the summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, in a meeting that lasted only half of the time. one hour.
In an interview with Arabi 21, Ismail Goktan, a Turkish journalist, pointed out that Erdogan’s visit to Tehran has regional dimensions and that we are witnessing the rapprochement of a number of Arab countries and Israel, and said: Joe’s efforts US President Biden
He noted: Biden said in his meeting with Yair Lapid, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, that he wants to create a regional alliance against the threat of Iran and its militias in the region, and that Israel’s security is a priority for Washington.
Goktan continued: President Erdogan will try to pay attention to the situation in Iran and use this issue in favor of the expected military operation in Syria.
He pointed out that this trip is being carried out while Turkey is worried about Iran’s movements in Turkey’s borders, inside Turkey and in the region, and pointed out Iran’s attempt to assassinate Israelis in Istanbul, which caused Turkey’s discomfort.
He added: “Iranian movements on the borders have created a way for the organization “Pajak”, the arm of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iran.
Turkish writer Mustafa Qunir noted in an article in Sabah newspaper that Turkish-Iranian relations have seen tension for several reasons, including the normalization of Turkey and Israel, because Tehran sees this issue as a threat to itself. He openly expressed his position on this matter and tried to implement intelligence operations against Israelis on Turkish soil.
In addition, emerging geopolitical balances in the Caucasus region are neither welcomed by Iran nor viewed positively, especially the strengthening of Turkey and Azerbaijan in their power and weight in the Caucasus region, and this is a source of concern for Tehran.
The dams built in southern Turkey are a source of tension between Ankara and Tehran, which seem to cause environmental disasters. He also considers Turkey’s military presence in Syria and Iraq as a problem for Iran.
In an interview with Arabi 21, Turkish journalist Ismail Goktan confirmed that this trip takes place in the context of the recent developments in Syria and Turkey’s intention to start military operations against the “Kurdish militias”, but Moscow and Tehran support Syria. The regime that is trying to reach an agreement with these militias and send its forces to the region.
He emphasized that Turkey does not want to confront the Iranian regime and militias in Syria, so it wants to remove the regime from the region through negotiations with Iran and Russia, the two countries that maintain the regime’s control.
He pointed out that the tripartite summit will be held with the presence of President Putin, so it can be said that the first item of this trip will be Syria.
Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet reported that Erdogan will confirm his position on military operations in Syria in the Tehran talks and that Manbij and Tal Rifat have become a big problem for Turkey.
According to Ankara officials, the leaders of Russia and Iran are not in a position to oppose Turkey’s military operation, noting that Turkey has put Western public opinion in a position not to oppose the operation after Sweden and Finland agreed to join NATO. . And that the time of Russia and Iran has come.
This newspaper added: Russia, which is in a long-term war with Ukraine, is not having a bright time because of the sanctions, and it is doing effective diplomacy on the grain crisis, and Russian companies are looking to move their headquarters from Europe. to Istanbul and estimates that Turkey may be an exit point for Russia is embroiled in several issues, and Putin, who has provided vital support to Bashar al-Assad’s regime, is said to be open to negotiating with the country over Syria. Ankara
As for Iran, which supports the Assad government, it is in a critical position because of “Israel” and America, and the purpose of Biden’s trip to the region is to strengthen the solidarity of the Arabs and Israel against Tehran, which seems to be in a difficult position. .
The newspaper noted that after the NATO meeting in Tehran, Turkey is expected to clarify its position on the presence of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units and decide whether to carry out military operations.
The author of Goktan confirmed that Turkey carried out four military operations inside Syria and did not wait for the approval of Russia and Iran, and these two countries opposed the above operations, but Russia is currently at war with Ukraine.
He believed that the Russians do not insist on rejecting military operations, and regarding Iran, it can be said that Tehran’s goal is to bring order to the region and will try to impose this option, which was previously rejected by Turkey.
When Erdoğan’s visit was first announced, Putin’s presence was out of the question, and with the announcement that the Russian president would also be in Tehran on the same date, the shape of the Turkish president’s visit changed drastically. In a meeting where the three guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria were discussed. According to the Turkish writer Janir, the process of political settlement in Syria.
Turkey was preparing for operations against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, and like previous operations, it is trying to maintain communication and coordination with Russia, Iran, and the United States.
Qanir, a Turkish expert, noted: It is important for Turkey that the three countries that have a military presence in Syria agree to this operation, and Erdogan will raise this issue in Tehran.
During his trip to Istanbul, Iran’s foreign minister noted that Tehran understands Turkey’s possible operation, but Iran’s official and unofficial statements indicate its opposition to this operation, and the reason for this negative approach is that Tehran sees Turkey’s growing influence in Syria as a challenge to It is hegemony.
He noted: Despite the absence of Iranian elements in the operational area, one of the important details is that some forces affiliated with Assad and close to Iran announced that they will stand against Turkey in solidarity with the “terrorist organization”. Action. From this point of view, the Syrian issue should be discussed between Turkey and Iran.
On the other hand, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the huge costs there have increased the possibility of Moscow’s effectiveness in Syria decreasing, which means that the international conditions have become favorable for Turkey to carry out new operations. As the author mentions, he created against the protection units.
“Turkey Gazetsi” newspaper wrote that Turkey, which has entered into the process of normalization with Saudi Arabia, UAE and “Israel”, is taking measures to improve the level of relations with Iran, and the leaders of the two countries are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the development and acceleration of relations.
He noted that joint mechanisms will be established between the two neighboring countries to develop long-term cooperation in various fields.
This memorandum of understanding is expected to include the exploitation of the commercial corridor between Turkey, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the most important issues that Erdogan has with him are security issues, especially “terrorism”, migration and human trafficking. He will discuss with his Iranian counterpart about the measures that should be taken to increase solidarity in this field.
Pointing out that the issue of migration through Iran bothers Turkey, Goktan noted: Iran facilitates the entry of Afghan and Pakistani refugees to Turkey.
The post-war energy crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the (3+3) platform created to stabilize the South Caucasus are also among the topics on the table.
Source: Lebanon Debate
