Turkey’s Islamist government under President Erdogan appears to be pursuing a clear strategic objective regarding Iran: ensure the survival of the clerical regime in Tehran—or, if it collapses, shape the outcome so that any successor government remains hostile to the West and Israel.
THE NORDIC MONITOR -- Recent developments suggest Ankara’s policy toward Iran goes far beyond routine regional diplomacy. Instead, it reflects a broader geopolitical calculation aimed at maintaining an ideological and strategic bloc that challenges Western influence in the Middle East while reinforcing Erdogan’s political positioning at home and abroad.
Following recent attacks on Iran, Erdogan’s government—along with much of Turkey’s aligned opposition—has intensified anti-Israel rhetoric. At the same time, Ankara has downplayed Iran’s missile launch that reportedly landed on Turkish territory. Pro-government commentators even suggested, without evidence, that the incident was an Israeli false-flag operation.
From Ankara’s perspective, the stability of the Iranian regime is viewed as a matter of national security. Turkish policymakers increasingly portray attempts to weaken the Iranian regime as part of a broader confrontation involving the US and Israel. Protests and internal unrest in Iran are frequently framed as movements encouraged by foreign powers, echoing the narrative long promoted by Tehran itself.
