Alwaght- Following the recent developments and escalation of tensions between the US-Israeli camp and Iran, the Iranian-Turkish relations have once again become one of the most important factors of West Asia dynamics. On the one hand, the recent war and its fallout have shifted the view of the Turkish public and political parties to Iran's position and on the other hand, the growing conflict between Ankara and Tel Aviv, including on security and political cases, have made fresh assessments of the future regional relations unavoidable.
In such conditions, examination of the view of Turkey's parties and political figures to the recent developments contributes to a clearer picture of the opportunities and challenges ahead of the relations between Tehran and Ankara and also the Turkish elites' take of the new power composition in the region. In this connection, Alwaght has talked to Özgür Bursalı, the secretary-general of the Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi) of Turkey.
Alwaght: First I want to ask you about the view of the Turkish nation to the martyred Leader as we are in the days of his funeral.
Bursalı: Ayatollah Khamenei was not just a figure for Iranians, he held that same place for the people of Turkey too. He did not sacrifice his life for Iran alone; he gave it for the entire world and for humanity itself. That is why he is a hero for the Turkish nation, and that is something they will never forget.
We were deeply saddened, but we saw his martyrdom as a great victory, because it proved there is no divide between Iran’s leader and its people. He stood by his nation with courage and defiance, to the very end.
Alwaght: How do the people of Turkey view the Israeli-American aggression on Iran and the outcomes of war?
Bursalı: From the Turkish people's perspective, Iran stood up to American imperialism and Israeli Zionism, and beat them back. That is precisely why, after this war, respect for Iran among Turks has only grown.
Even those segments of Turkish society that used to lean toward the US and Israel have taken this as a wake-up call. You simply cannot count on those countries as reliable allies.
Alwaght: Now, the Turkish-Israeli ties are on a escalatory trend and even this regime recognized the Armenian genocide as the confrontation heated up. Where do these tensions lead?
Bursalı: I must say that Israel is not alone and the US stands by it against Turkey. The US is regularly building military bases around Turkey’s borders, from the neighboring countries to the Aegean Sea. Turkey is hosting the NATO leaders' meeting, but actually the West wants to partition Turkey and this fully aligns with Israeli strategic goals. These countries are seeking to implement the same scenarios against Turkey they implemented against Iran. So, we think that Turkey and Iran are facing a common threat from Israel and the US. So, their security is not separate. Turkey's security is Iran's and Iran's security is Turkey's. Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China should partner and check the American-Israeli threats.
Alwaght: What level are the Iranian-Turkish ties? How can they be beefed up, especially in economic terms?
Bursalı: This is a major opportunity for expanding Iran-Turkey relations. The US should withdraw our region, and if that happens, we will see a real flourishing of Iranian-Turkish ties across economic, political, and cultural fronts. The US constantly tries to drive a wedge between us. Iran has played its part well on that front, but Turkey's government needs to stand more firmly beside Iran than ever before.
Alliance with Washington and Israel serves no Turkish interest. But if Iran and Turkey join hands, the benefits will be immense, and with Russia and China in sync with us, those gains could extend far beyond our two nations, to the benefit of the entire region.
