Political Hostility or Diplomatic Retaliation?

Do you believe that relations between Iran and Turkey are becoming cold?

Foreign relations between countries cannot be considered in the same way as with personal relations, for the effective elements and issues in relations between countries are not the same as with relations between individuals. For example, if two people disrespect each other or express different opinions, their relations might be damaged or terminated. But international relations do not follow the same path. The reason is that the dominant issues in relations between countries are not psychological, but rather the defined interests of countries which direct them towards expansion of relations or prevent them from establishing relations. It is possible for a country to continue its relations with another country solely based on its interests without even receiving any respect. It means that a country might be respected, but if its interests are not provided, its relations at the international level cannot continue.

In our country, the issue that has been ignored is that countries must continue their relations based on their national interests. This issue gains more importance with neighboring countries, for these countries have been placed next to each other due to their geographical situation and they are bound to cooperate with each other. Therefore, countries do not choose their neighbors and must make great efforts to prevent crises being created between them and to maintain friendly relations. Any crisis created in relations between two countries will hurt both of them. Thus, we are bound to maintain friendly relations with our neighboring countries.

Another point is that in today’s world, relations between countries contain both agreements and differences. Countries might share common viewpoints on certain issues and have different opinions with regard to others. It is not that two countries have no differences and agree on all matters. It means that in today’s political world, even strategic allies have disagreements; for example, the US and Israel, which are strategic allies, disagree with each other on some issues. It is true that they share a common viewpoint with regard to so many issues but they still have serious and public disagreements over certain issues.

Thus, Iran and Turkey, as two neighboring countries, must have friendly relations with each other. Disagreements between the two countries are totally logical and normal; for both of them have their own interests. We have our own national interests and they have their own, but we must not forget that Iran and Turkey have common national interests in many issues. Today, they cooperate with each other in the issues of energy, gas trade, logistics, banking… Due to the sanctions, our situation at the present time is very special and that is why Turkey is important for us. At the same time, we have disagreements on the issue of Syria and the deployment of Patriot missiles. But these differences must not be interpreted as engaging in conflict with each other; these differences must be managed.

You mentioned the issue of Syria. What are the most important differences between the two countries over this issue?

Turkey’s behavior and policies during the last two years indicate that this country has made its decision and is investing in relations with Syria after the downfall of Bashar Assad. Turkey’s assessment is that at least the government of Mr. Bashar Assad will be overthrown; hence, Turkey is cooperating with Assad’s opponents, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, and supports them. This support has been observed in different forms during the past few months. Iran, on the other hand, has had a strategic alliance with Syria over the past few years and considers regime change in this country a conspiracy of the western countries to weaken the axis of resistance in the region. That is why the two countries have disagreements with regard to the issue of Syria.

What are the differences between Iran and Turkey over the Patriot missiles?

Patriot missiles are basically anti-missile missiles and are used in defense. In fact, this system is not built to attack other countries, but rather to equip one country against another country’s invasion. But the important issue is that under the current critical conditions, the deployment of this anti-missile defense system in Syria’s border can have different interpretations. This measure breaks the existing political and military balance in the region. That is why it has been opposed by Syria, Russia, and Iran. These countries have no protest against the defensive nature of these missiles. They state however that these missiles destroy the regional balance, hence, threatening the security of the region. Iran also feels threatened because Turkey is its neighbor, and since this issue directly threatens Iran’s security, Iran has expressed its protest. Therefore, Iran has the right to protest and Turkey also has the right to respond to Iran’s protests.

Can we therefore assume that these protests will lead to tensions in bilateral relations?

In my opinion, this issue must not be discussed in a way which will give the impression of potentially hostile relations between the two countries. Today, it is accepted in international relations that countries, while having differences, can have relations with each other.  There is no problem in having differences. This means that countries must tolerate each other’s outlooks without intervening in the affairs of the others. In my opinion, this is an issue which can be solved.

But can the cancellation of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s trip to Turkey be an indication of coldness in relations between Iran and Turkey?

I have no accurate information about why the President has cancelled his trip. The reason officially given by Iran is the President’s high volume of duties and responsibilities; but I admit that this is an official and respectful excuse to hide the main reason. In fact, this incident might have happened due to the existing issues between the two countries. Sometimes disagreements lead to such measures and sometimes they are responses to the behavior of the other country. For example, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, was supposed to participate in the NAM Summit in Tehran as a special guest but this did not happen. Perhaps by cancelling his trip to Turkey to participate in the anniversary of Rumi’s passing in the city of Konya, Mr. Ahmadinejad has attempted to respond to Turkey’s behavior in its non-participation in the NAM Summit. But in my opinion, such issues should not be exaggerated. There are many examples where countries, while having differences, cooperate with each other, particularly when they are neighbors. If these issues are not considered, then elements of threat will be created.