Erdogan in Tehran: “New impetus in our relations”

Kremlin chief Putin has arrived in Tehran for a summit meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts. In advance, they explored how they can work together – it’s not just about trade.

Relations are good, but they could be even better. The statements by the Presidents of Iran and Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ebrahim Raisi, after their two-way talks can be summed up in this way.

Above all, there is clearly room for improvement in trade with each other, says Raisi: “We imagine that we will trade between our countries at 30 billion US dollars. That would be a tripling of the current volume.”

Erdogan even speaks of four times as much as before. Most recently, business had suffered from the Corona crisis. To achieve their goals, Iran and Turkey signed a number of treaties for closer cooperation, including some specifically related to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Erdogan: “Better future”

Erdogan speaks of a better future in Turkish-Iranian relations. The talks would “bring new impetus to our relations”.

This momentum, at least for Iran, is not just about the economy. Rather, the increased cooperation between the two countries is the basis for better overall – including political – relations, said Raisi: “Good economic relations between the two countries can lead to good relations overall. Two powerful countries like Iran and Turkey can be responsible for security in regionally and internationally.”

Security is a keyword for Erdogan. He comes to his main topic: terrorism. And tries to set the tone for the forthcoming three-way talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the evening.

This takes place in the so-called Astana format, in which the three countries are connected in relation to Syria. There, Russia and Iran are on the side of ruler Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey is on the side of the opposition.

Before his planned renewed military action in northern Syria, Erdogan would like the agreement of Russia and Iran. And he verbally sets things up: “It doesn’t matter in which country terrorists are active – they are a problem for every country affected. That’s why we have to continue to act against them in solidarity.”

But he cannot count on a yes tonight. Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after his conversation with Erdogan that any attack in northern Syria would only help the terrorists. Incidentally, the USA sees it the same way. Or to put it another way: Erdogan has so far been alone with his plans for northern Syria.

Putin could benefit most from meetings

According to the Iranian observer Amin Montagzeri, the winner of today’s meeting in Tehran has already been determined, regardless of other results: Putin.

A few days after US President Joe Biden’s visit to the region, he sent a clear signal to the world: “Look – you imposed sanctions on Russia, tried to isolate it. But look: it’s not Russia!”