Tensions between Turkey and Iran have intensified following comments made by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan regarding Iran’s alleged support for Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey, which considers the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a terrorist group, has warned Tehran against cooperation with these militias. In response, Iranian officials expressed strong disapproval and both nations have since summoned their respective diplomats for discussions.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on February 26, Fidan criticised Iran’s regional policy, stating that Tehran’s reliance on militias had resulted in more losses than gains. When asked whether Iran was supporting Syrian Kurdish forces, Fidan responded bluntly:

"If you try to create unrest in another country by supporting a group there, another country might support a group in your country to create unrest for you," he said.

"Nothing can remain hidden in today's world. The capabilities you have, others also possess. Therefore, if you do not want stones thrown at your window, you should not throw stones at others' windows."

Many in Turkey interpreted these remarks as a warning that Ankara could respond by supporting certain groups inside Iran, particularly among Iran’s sizable Azerbaijani population, which shares cultural and linguistic ties with Turkey.

Iranian officials quickly rebuked Fidan’s statements. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei took to X (formerly Twitter) to assert that Iran has not pursued regional ambitions in the past fifty years.

"We were the first country to oppose and confront the coup against the Turkish government," Baghaei stated.

"We were among the first countries to welcome the PKK’s [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] disarmament and consider it an important step towards strengthening security in our neighbouring country, Turkey."

Additionally, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani acknowledged existing disagreements between the two countries regarding Syria and described Fidan’s remarks as "unconstructive." She warned against similar statements in the future.

"We have issues with Turkey regarding Syria, and we hope that these issues will be handled wisely," Mohajerani said on Tuesday.

Amid the rising diplomatic strain, Iran’s foreign ministry "invited" Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kirlangic for a meeting. Iranian officials reportedly cautioned that "sensitive regional conditions necessitate avoiding inappropriate remarks and unrealistic analyses that could lead to disputes and tensions in bilateral relations."

In response, Turkey’s foreign ministry also "invited" Iran’s charge d’affaires in Ankara for a discussion, citing recent public criticisms of Turkey by Iranian officials. A formal dossier on the matter was also forwarded to the Iranian side.

Despite rising tensions, both countries have carefully avoided formally summoning diplomats, opting instead for the more diplomatic term "invited" in public statements. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli underscored Ankara’s preference for direct diplomatic engagement.

"We believe that, in any case, foreign policy issues should not be used as material for domestic politics. In this framework, we prefer to convey critical messages that need to be given to another country directly to their recipients," Keceli said on Tuesday.

Turkey and Iran have long been regional rivals, with Syria serving as a focal point of their competition. The ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December significantly altered the power dynamics in Syria, strengthening Turkey’s influence while weakening Iran’s position.

Since then, Turkish officials have sought a resolution involving the SDF and the Syrian government, proposing that Kurdish forces integrate into the Syrian national army while PKK leaders are expelled to Iraq.

Serhan Afacan, chairman of the Turkey-based Iranian Research Center (IRAM), noted that Turkey remains highly sensitive to any Iranian support for the SDF or PKK. While Iran’s relationship with the PKK and its affiliates is well-documented, it remains unclear whether Tehran actively supports them or merely allows their activities to continue unchecked.

"In consecutive statements made in May 2024, Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler emphasized that Iran did not give sufficient importance to the issue of PKK terrorists," Afacan said.

"Guler stated that when Turkey informed the Iranians about terrorists entering from their borders, they did not receive the necessary response. On the other hand, Iran had previously described Turkey’s counter-terrorism operations in both Iraq and Syria as a 'violation of sovereignty' on various occasions."

Iran officially designates the PKK as a terrorist organisation but does not extend this classification to its Syrian affiliates, such as the SDF and YPG. This stance aligns Tehran with Western countries, which differentiates between the groups.

Iranian journalist and analyst Fereshteh Sadeghi emphasised that despite periodic diplomatic conflicts, Iran values Turkey as an important neighbour and aims to preserve bilateral relations. However, she suggested that Iran might be using the SDF for its own strategic purposes in Syria.

"I think Iran does not necessarily use the SDF against Turkey, but rather leverages them to advance its own interests in Syria," she said.

Sadeghi also noted that Iran's access to Lebanon has been significantly restricted, leading Tehran to potentially consider using the SDF as an intermediary.

"Iran’s access to Lebanon has now been cut off, and it might use the SDF as an intermediary or a middleman for some access to Lebanon. So, we should not assume that Tehran's engagement with the SDF is solely about positioning the Kurds against Turkey," she added.

The escalating diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Iran underscore the broader geopolitical rivalry between the two nations. While both sides have avoided direct confrontation, their disputes over Syria and Kurdish groups continue to strain relations. With both nations seeking to maintain diplomatic channels while asserting their regional interests, how this situation unfolds will be closely watched in the coming months.