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Recep Tayyip Erdogan |
WASHINGTON – The competition between Turkey and Iran over influence on Iraq, and indeed, the rest of the Middle East, is prompting outward concern in Tehran over what was thought to be a close relationship between the nations, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
The sentiment is rising just as Ankara announced a decision to allow installation of a controversial U.S. radar for an anti-ballistic missile system aimed at deterring Iranian missiles.
At the same time, Iran has begun to increase its strategic relationship with Russia.
Analysts confirm Turkey and Iran generally have enjoyed close ties and cooperate in a variety of fields including trade, economic relations, fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia.
Turkey has been strengthening its ties to Iran and other countries in the East, attempting to re-establish its historical influence, since the Muslim government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002. In undertaking a "zero problems" foreign policy, Turkey has sought to be a mediator in disputes between Iran and the West, especially over Iran's refusal to halt its nuclear enrichment program, which is now subject to United Nations sanctions.
For that reason, Turkey has been a strong supporter of Iran's right to develop nuclear energy. Ankara has sought to work out an agreement on the Iranian right to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Tehran is a signatory, against Western sanctions designed to halt the enrichment
Turkey also supports Iran on Palestinian rights, an issue which has driven a wedge between Ankara and Israel to the point just short of severing diplomatic relations.
At the same time, Sunni Turkey appears to be competing with the Shiite Islamic republic for influence in the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring. The turmoil there has altered more than 30 years of strategic alignment with the West, leaving a political void which Ankara now seeks to fill.
Erdogan's most recent visit to Cairo demonstrated Turkey's interest in filling that void with a fellow Muslim country left by the greatly diminished influence of the United States and European countries there.
Regional sources point out that Erdogan has embarked on a "revolution tour" not only in Egypt but also in Tunisia and Libya, the other two North African countries that have been embroiled in violence, demonstrations and regime change.
Ironically, Israelis are comparing Erdogan with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who similarly seeks to cast Tehran's influence in the Sunni Arab world. Iran is accepting credit for the various Arab revolts, comparing them to Iran's own 1979 Islamic revolution.
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