Türkiye throws its weight behind Iran as fears continue of a looming U.S.-Israeli strike, with Ankara issuing a stark warning against “any military intervention” and demanding the West back off, insisting Tehran be left to handle its “own internal problems.”
“When examined closely, there is no situation that would whet the appetite of some countries hostile to Iran abroad, in terms of hostility toward the regime. However, the economic difficulties created by existing policies, and the inability to alleviate them, do give rise to serious problems. We do not want to see any intervention here,” Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul on Thursday.
Speaking on the recent protests, he said that when a country faces sanctions, certain economic services become restricted, adding: “Iran has a large population and a dynamic society. It has sophisticated people with a very strong desire for life and for participation in social life. When you deprive such a society of certain opportunities, these kinds of problems emerge.”
He added: “What gets confused here is that the hardships people face due to economic and other difficulties can appear as an ideological uprising against the regime; in reality, this constitutes a grey area.”
Stressing the importance of Iran for Türkiye, Fidan said that everything related to Iran “concerns us,” adding that Tehran solving problems with “certain actors” benefits Ankara. In a recent phone conversation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Turkiyee closely monitoring the situation,” he added.
In a recent phone conversation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Turkiye has never supported foreign intervention against Iran.
Erdogan and Pezeshkian discussed bilateral ties and regional issues, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
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Erdogan reportedly told Pezeshkian he is closely following developments in Iran, stressing that Ankara never took a positive stance toward scenarios involving foreign intervention against Tehran.
The Turkish leader emphasised that resolving problems and preventing an escalation of tensions in the region are also in Türkiye’s interests.
Protests had erupted in Iran late December amid worsening economic conditions, particularly the sharp depreciation of the national currency and soaring inflation.
Authorities accused the U.S. and Israel of supporting “rioters” and “terrorists” who allegedly attacked public and private property, including shops, banks and mosques.
Turkey is one of several Muslim-majority countries in the region who have lobbied Washington not to attack Iran over fears it will spark a massive regional conflict which could spiral out of control.
Ankara has admitted that it believes Israel is still seeking an opportunity to strike Iran, warning such a move could further destabilise the region.
