Iran has summoned Türkiye’s ambassador, Hicabi Kırlangıç, to express its dissatisfaction over Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent criticism of Tehran’s Syria policy. The diplomatic rift comes after Fidan, in an interview with Al Jazeera, warned that backing groups to destabilize other countries could invite retaliatory actions.
Iran Pushes Back Against Türkiye’s Remarks
In response, Mahmoud Heydari, Iran’s Director General for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, met with Kırlangıç on March 3 to stress the importance of mutual respect in diplomatic discourse. He cautioned that “inaccurate analyses and inappropriate comments” could escalate tensions.
Heydari also shifted the focus to Israel, calling its aggressive policies the real threat to regional stability. He urged Islamic nations to prioritize countering Israeli actions rather than engaging in disputes.
The Turkish envoy reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to strong bilateral relations and promised to relay Iran’s concerns to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Ankara and Tehran Exchange Diplomatic Warnings
Türkiye responded by summoning Iran’s chargé d’affaires on March 4 to discuss comments made by Iranian officials, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli. He downplayed the meeting, describing it as a routine diplomatic exchange.
However, Iranian officials took a stronger stance. Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, accused Türkiye of violating diplomatic protocols and issued a stern warning:
“The Islamic Republic will not allow any country to undermine its deep, historical regional ties… Turkish authorities must fully observe diplomatic protocol and avoid making unfounded allegations.”
Velayati further emphasized that while Iran seeks regional engagement, it “will never adopt silence in the face of bluster.”
Longstanding Syria Tensions and Accusations
The latest tensions stem from Türkiye and Iran’s long-standing policy differences over Syria. Tehran, a key backer of Bashar al-Assad, has long been accused of seeking to embed its military influence in Syria through proxies and direct military presence—a claim Iran denies, referring to its forces as “military advisers.”
Meanwhile, Türkiye has supported Syrian opposition groups, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan openly welcomed Assad’s fall last year. Iran, however, continues to blame the U.S., Israel, and indirectly Türkiye for their roles in shaping Syria’s future.
Iran’s Stance on Kurdish Militants
In a separate move, Iran signaled alignment with Türkiye on another regional security issue—the disarmament of the PKK. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai welcomed the call by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for the militant group to lay down arms and dissolve itself.
Baghai noted that Iran had been one of the first nations to support PKK disarmament, seeing it as key to regional stability, particularly in border areas between Türkiye, Iraq, and Iran, where Kurdish separatist groups like PJAK have been active.
Growing Strains in Ankara-Tehran Relations
Despite years of economic and political cooperation, Türkiye and Iran continue to experience sharp disagreements over Syria, regional power dynamics, and proxy conflicts. While both sides publicly stress neighborly ties, the latest exchange signals deepening mistrust that could shape their future regional engagement.