Iranian Diplomacy Targets Turkey

Ilan Berman, Iran Democracy Monitor: No. 3

As the international crisis over their nuclear program continues to escalate, Iranian leaders are stepping up their efforts to woo regional states. In early March, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian parliament's Commission on National Security, Foreign Policy and Defense Matters - and a special envoy for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - traveled to Ankara for talks with Turkish officials. In his meetings, Boroujerdi reportedly emphasized the "historical ties" between Turkey and Iran. He also telegraphed that Tehran has a clear set of expectations from its some-time diplomatic partner; "We expect the friendly and fraternal Turkish nation to support our policies," Boroujerdi has told reporters. (Istanbul Zaman, March 7, 2006)

Read the entire monitor here.