Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for greater cooperation between regional rivals Iran and Turkey today to help establish stability in war-ravaged Syria and Iraq.
“Today when the region is in a critical condition, cooperation and consultation by Tehran and Ankara in resolving issues can make a difference,” Rouhani told visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.
“If major regional powers stand together, problems in Iraq and Syria will be resolved without the need for foreign powers,” Rouhani added.
“Despite [their differences], the two countries’ officials are looking for solutions and seeking to draw closer their points of views, especially on Iraq and Syria,” IRNA earlier reported.
“Preserving the territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq and Syria is in the interest of Iran and Turkey as well as that of regional peace and stability,” Cavusoglu was quoted by IRNA as saying.
Iran, a Shia theocracy, is a main ally of President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria’s civil war, while Sunni-majority Turkey has been one of his fiercest critics and has supported his opponents.
Iran has joined Iraq in criticising the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, which Ankara has said is at the invitation of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Relations between the two neighbours appear to have improved after Iran supported the government of Turkey against a failed military coup in July, but Turkey has openly indicated that it believed that Iran was the cause of much instability throughout the Middle East.
Nevertheless, Turkey has substantial trade and energy agreements with the Shia power, with a large proportion of its energy coming from its neighbour. This has led to speculation that Turkey is hesitant to face Iran for fear of risking billions in mutual trade, Middle East Monitor reports.
