Iran Expresses Concern Over Türkiye’s Diplomatic Remarks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its dissatisfaction to the Turkish ambassador in response to the Turkish foreign minister’s recent criticism of Tehran’s policies toward Syria.

The ministry raised the issue with Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tehran, Hicabi Kırlangıç, following “recent remarks” by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview with Al Jazeera last week. Fidan criticized Iran’s regional policies, cautioning that supporting certain groups to create discomfort in other countries could lead to similar actions being taken in return.

During a meeting with the Turkish envoy, Mahmoud Heydari, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, emphasized the shared interests of both nations and the region’s sensitive situation, the ministry reported on March 3.

He stressed that “inaccurate analyses and inappropriate comments” could lead to tensions and disagreements.

Heydari condemned Israel’s “continued aggression and expansionist policies” as the primary threat to regional stability, urging Islamic nations to focus on halting Israel’s actions against Palestinians and other regional populations, including Syrians.

The Turkish ambassador reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to strong bilateral relations with Iran, emphasizing the need for cooperation to address common threats. He also assured Iran that its “concerns” would be conveyed to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said on March 4 that Iran’s chargé d’affaires had been invited to the ministry to discuss recent comments by some Iranian officials. He described the meeting as a routine exchange of views but did not specify the nature of the Iranian officials’ remarks.

On March 4, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior strategic and foreign relations adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, accused Ankara of violating diplomatic protocols. He stated that “the Islamic Republic will not allow any country to undermine its deep, historical regional ties.”

“Iran has always conducted its policies based on mutual respect and non-interference in the affairs of other countries. To that end, it is expected that Turkish authorities fully observe diplomatic protocol and avoid making unfounded allegations,” Velayati added.

He warned that “certain Turkish officials must be aware that repetition of baseless and intrusive claims will not help bilateral relations” and emphasized that “Iran-Türkiye ties are based on neighborly and common interests, and it is expected that Turkish authorities avoid comments that can undermine these relations.”

“The Islamic Republic is for engagement but will never adopt silence in the face of bluster,” Velayati stressed.

On February 28, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai responded to the Turkish foreign minister’s criticism, stating, “We are steadfast in our principled stances, and we do not change our positions from one policy to another every day.”

He pointed to the role of Israel and the U.S. in regional politics, asserting that “it is wrong not to see their covert and overt hands.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader has accused the U.S. and Israel - along with Türkiye, albeit indirectly - of seeking a military presence in Syria and blamed them for Assad’s downfall late last year.

Following Assad’s collapse, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed the regime’s fall and pledged his country’s support for Syria’s transition.

Iran and Syria had maintained strong military and security ties, which deepened throughout the 2010s. Iranian forces operating in Syria since the start of the civil war had frequently been targeted by Israeli strikes. Tehran had also sought to integrate its proxies into the Syrian army to secure long-term influence in Syria’s military and security structures. However, Iran denied maintaining a military presence in Syria, referring to its troops as “military advisers.”

In a separate statement, Baghai welcomed the call by Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization, for the movement to lay down arms and dissolve itself.

He stated that Iran was among the first countries to welcome the PKK’s disarmament, considering it “an important step towards strengthening security in our neighboring country, Türkiye.”

Iran’s West Azerbaijan and Kordestan provinces share long borders with Türkiye and Iraq. Kurdish armed groups seeking autonomy for the Kurdish region have used these borders to launch attacks on Iranian military forces over the past four decades. Iran primarily accuses the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), an Iranian branch of the PKK terrorist organization, of carrying out acts of sabotage and attacking border regions.