Turkey and Iran Summon Envoys Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Ankara conveyed its concerns to the Iranian envoy, emphasizing that foreign policy should not be used as a tool for domestic politics.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s Acting Ambassador on Tuesday in response to Tehran’s public criticism of Ankara’s foreign policy, marking an escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Turkey Responds to Iran’s Summons
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli stated that Ankara conveyed its concerns to the Iranian envoy, emphasizing that foreign policy should not be used as a tool for domestic politics.
The move followed Iran’s summoning of the Turkish ambassador a day earlier, after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Tehran against actions that could destabilize Syria.
Iran-Turkey Dispute Over Regional Influence
The diplomatic row was triggered by Fidan’s recent remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, where he criticized Iran’s reliance on armed factions in the Middle East, calling the approach “dangerous” and urging Tehran to reconsider its strategy. He also suggested that if Iran continued to stir tensions in third-party states, other countries could respond in kind by supporting opposition groups within Iran.
In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Turkey but described recent Turkish statements as “unconstructive.” He called on Ankara to focus more on Israel’s policies in Syria rather than Tehran’s regional strategy.
Diplomatic Efforts to Ease Tensions
During a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Hicabi Kırlangıç, Iran’s Director General for Mediterranean and East European Affairs, Mahmoud Heidari, stressed the importance of avoiding rhetoric that could lead to unnecessary tensions between the two countries. He highlighted that shared interests and the sensitive geopolitical situation in the region necessitate a careful approach to bilateral relations.
