Ms Fatemeh Asadi, a Tehran-based foreign affairs specialist, told an Islamabad forum that Turkiye and Iran are natural partners because of geographic proximity and shared interests in stabilising Syria. Speaking at an event organised by the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, she argued that the Syrian situation remains volatile and that no external actor can claim full control; instead, regional stakeholders must look for common ground to prevent further fragmentation.
Ms Asadi rejected the idea that Iran is weakened in the region, saying Iran has adjusted its priorities and now pursues a more pragmatic approach in its relations. She warned that Israeli moves that could deepen Syrian division risk wider instability, and suggested Turkiye finds in Iran a pragmatic partner to promote Syrian unity. Her remarks highlighted the evolving contours of Turkiye Iran ties as both capitals weigh practical cooperation over ideological alignment.
Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Turkiye seeks to manage its complex relationship with Iran while also keeping the United States engaged. He argued that the Turkiye-Iran partnership is inherently limited because Turkiye wants to balance ties with Tehran and maintain ties with Washington. Ambassador Fitton-Brown also drew attention to growing regional fragmentation, including potential alignments among Gulf states, and warned that an exclusive or non-inclusive political settlement in Syria could provoke renewed sectarian tensions and possible shifts in external support.
Ferahim Eliyev, a research fellow from Azerbaijan’s Crescent Research Center, described the Turkiye-Iran rapprochement as tactical and grounded in realpolitik rather than ideology. He said Turkiye views certain Israeli actions as destabilising and is therefore prepared to cooperate with Iran to manage the Syrian crisis. Eliyev added that Turkiye aims to present itself as a credible mediator between the new Syrian administration and Iran, making the partnership situational but significant, especially given Ankara’s continued economic engagement with Tehran despite sanctions.
The Islamabad discussion underscored that Turkiye Iran ties are driven by immediate strategic calculations over Syria rather than long-term alignment. For Pakistan, which hosted the dialogue, the evolving cooperation between Ankara and Tehran has implications for regional security dynamics and diplomatic calculations. Islamabad will likely monitor how these tactical ties influence conflict resolution efforts in Syria and the broader balance of influence across the Middle East.
