Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara on 2 December. The discussions centred on the escalating violence in Syria, with Iran accusing Israel and the United States of collaborating to provoke instability. In a joint press release, the ministers expressed confidence that the Astana process would secure peace in Syria.
During the meeting, which followed Araghchi’s visit to Damascus, Fidan dismissed claims of foreign intervention in Syria’s violent developments. He called for the Syrian regime to reconcile with opposition groups, stating, “Turkey is not aiding terrorism in Syria; we are defending the unity of Syria.”
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s support for Syria while accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the country through their alleged coordination with terrorist groups. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the Astana process would continue to foster stability.
Contradictions in the foreign policies of Iran and Turkey were evident. While Iran backs the Assad government, Turkey supports opposition forces. Reports from the Rojava Information Centre (RIC) indicate that Turkey provides direct support to the Syrian National Army (SNA) jihadist forces. Additionally, Turkey’s ongoing occupation of Syrian territory, including Afrin, has been linked to the fragmentation of the country and increased violence against civilians.
