In a surprising turn of events, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was notably absent from a summit in Ankara, as earlier disclosed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This unexpected development hints at underlying tensions between the two nations, despite their common stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Turkish presidency, in response to queries, clarified that Erdogan had no scheduled meetings on Tuesday but refrained from specifying whether the visit had been canceled or postponed.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the postponement of Raisi’s visit to Turkey, providing no further details or reasons for the delay.
The confusion surrounding Raisi’s visit highlights the complexities in the relationship between the two regional powers, even as they share perspectives on the Israel-Hamas war. Erdogan had initially announced Raisi’s official visit during his return from a summit in Riyadh on November 11, which was attended by both leaders.
“Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is coming to us on the 28th of the month,” Erdogan had declared during the flight, and the visit was extensively covered by Turkey’s state media and discussed in television broadcasts until Monday. However, it was never officially confirmed by Raisi’s office or Iran’s official media.
Analysts suggest that beyond their shared criticisms of Israel’s actions, Iran may be urging Turkey to translate its rhetoric into concrete actions, such as severing trade and energy ties with Israel.
While Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, the relationship between Iran and Turkey is complex, marked by economic ties and differing views on regional issues. The recent Gaza conflict temporarily shifted the focus away from previous disputes, particularly Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which had caused unease in Iran.
As Raisi’s postponed visit adds a layer of uncertainty to their relations, the intricacies of Iran-Turkey ties remain a focal point of regional dynamics.
By AFP
