Iran and Turkey (The areas of competition and cooperation)

The essay puts this question: What is the reason for tension between Turkey and Iran? Collapse of USSR and Bipolar system has affected Turkey Policies. During the cold war, Turkey was one of the allay of the west. It selected Pantorkism to offset decline of its strategic importance. In fact, global developments and opening of political climate of Turkey during past two decades, providing suitable grounds for its future developments. Accepting various opinions and taking a moderate position are good examples of the party for justice and development (Edalat and Tousea Party). Control of Army and ensuring military persons have been performed. Party employed peoples with good records and contractive thoughts for doing reforms. This policy has created increased regional and international prestige for Turkey.

These achievements resulted from multilateral foreign policy, which cooperating with EU and U.S.A, meanwhile, creating good relations with eastern countries such as Middle East countries. This shows an independence policy in view of current Turkey. We have been witnessing a relative stability in relations of Iran and Turkey it was continued on the basis of both cooperation and competition. The effective factors on the relations of these tow countries are as follow: relations with USA and Israel, Kurdish problems, and competition in central Asia and Canada. Recently, in domestic conflicts of Syria, Iran supported Syria state and Turkey supported Syria’s opposition. These different positions have resulted in tensions between Turkey and Iran. Establishment of antimissile base in Turkey has also resulted in more tensions between two countries.

Iran objected Turkey for crushing Islamist groups, tolerance for dressing (Hijab), close union with Israel. Turkey objected Iran for supporting Islamic fundamentalists, cooperating with Kurdish separatist and noncooperation for fighting against P.K.K. Turkey is trying to become a model for other Islamic country and Iran competes Turkey in this respect. It is clear that each country thinks and acts as per its Ideology and political structure. Iran is relying on Islam and Turkey on Laicism. Basics of Ideology and Ideals of Mustafa Kamal are summarized into six priciples and included in article 2 of Turkey constitution (approved on 1927). These principles are republicanism, Nationalism, populism, revolutionarism, Laicism and Statism. The first four principles are ideological basis of Turkey political structure and two other principles are philosophical basis of Turkey’s politics. Therefore, in the Turkey, political legitimacy resulted from national sovereignty, and in Iran legitimacy resulted from Islamic law and shariat therefore, Sovereignty in Iran belongs to the God and it will be performed through Islamic laws and leadership (guardian of jurisprudence, fifth principle). There are contradicted ideology and political structure in two countries.

These contradictions will affect on the relations of two countries. Different world views and orientation of foreign policies resulted in negative effects. During Iraq war against Iran, Turkey was neutral but it become one of the bigger commercial partners of Iran.