Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Cancels Planned Visit to Ankara
The Turkish presidency has announced that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will not be visiting Ankara as previously scheduled. No reason was provided for the cancellation of the visit, which had been announced earlier this month by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders were expected to discuss a joint response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has referred to Israel as a “terrorist state.” He has also called Iran-backed Hamas a “liberation group” and suggested trying Israeli politicians and military commanders in the International Criminal Court. However, previous meetings between Muslim and Arab leaders have failed to find common ground on how to address the conflict.
Analysts believe that Raisi’s intended purpose for the visit was to pressure Turkey to sever its trade and energy relations with Israel. Istanbul’s Center for Iranian Studies director, Hakki Uygur, stated that Iran expects Turkey to end its direct and indirect trade with Israel. However, Turkey has taken an approach that separates political and commercial issues.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a significant loss of life, with nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians and including thousands of children, reported dead. Efforts are currently focused on extending a truce that has seen the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners.
Iran and Turkey share a border and have a complex history of economic relations and differing views on regional disputes. Turkey supported rebel efforts to overthrow Iranian and Russian-backed President Bashar Assad during Syria’s civil war. Additionally, Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in its conflicts with Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh has caused unease in Iran. Tehran is concerned that Azerbaijan’s resurgence could fuel separatist ambitions among Iran’s ethnic Azerbaijani minority. Iran is also wary of a proposed trade route between Azerbaijan and Turkey along its northern border, which could complicate its access to Armenia.
The conflict in the Caucasus and Karabakh region remains an important issue between Turkey and Iran. While the Gaza conflict has temporarily shifted the focus, it continues to be a point of contention. Erdogan and Raisi discussed finding a common stance against Israel’s actions during a phone call on Sunday.
Analysts believe that Iran is carefully considering its involvement in the Middle East crisis. The Eurasia Group stated in a report that Iran is cautious about escalating the conflict and risking unintended actions that could lead to US retaliation. Erdogan has also expressed concerns about the spread of war and emphasized the need for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace.
In conclusion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s planned visit to Ankara has been canceled without explanation. The visit was intended to address the Israel-Hamas conflict, but previous meetings between Muslim and Arab leaders have failed to find a consensus. Iran is expected to pressure Turkey to sever its trade and energy relations with Israel, while Turkey maintains a stance that separates political and commercial issues. The ongoing conflict in the Caucasus and Karabakh region remains an important issue between the two countries. Both Iran and Turkey are committed to working towards a permanent ceasefire and achieving lasting peace in the region.