Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdoğan says Türkiye opposes foreign intervention in Iran

Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdoğan says Türkiye opposes foreign intervention in Iran
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in Tianjin, China, 1 September, 2025
Reuters

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Türkiye opposes any form of foreign intervention in Iran, as protests and economic pressures continue to fuel tensions in the Islamic republic.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye has never supported foreign intervention in Iran during a phone call on Thursday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, with Erdogan telling Pezeshkian that Ankara is closely following the situation in Iran. He stressed that Türkiye has consistently rejected scenarios involving external interference against Tehran.

Erdogan also underlined that preventing further escalation and resolving regional problems through dialogue are in Türkiye’s national interest.

“Türkiye has never taken a positive stance toward foreign intervention in Iran,” Erdogan said, according to the official statement.

Unrest Amid Economic Pressures

The call comes amid protests that erupted in Iran in late December, driven by worsening economic conditions, including a sharp depreciation of the national currency and rising inflation.

Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of backing what they described as “rioters” and “terrorists,” alleging they were involved in attacks on public and private property, including shops, banks and mosques.

Western governments have repeatedly denied involvement in Iran’s internal unrest.

Regional Stability Emphasised

Erdogan emphasised that maintaining stability and avoiding heightened tensions in the region is also in Türkiye’s strategic interest, reflecting Ankara’s broader position of advocating dialogue and non-intervention in regional disputes.

Türkiye and Iran maintain complex relations, cooperating on trade and regional security while often holding differing views on conflicts across the Middle East.

The Turkish presidency said contacts between Ankara and Tehran would continue as developments unfold.

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