The dispute between Turkey and Iran over a poem read by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has apparently come to an end after a calming message was shared by Iran.
Iran’s Turkish Embassy made a statement on its Twitter account announcing the reconciliation. “The recent misunderstanding was solved over a phone call between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif. Both sides pointed out the importance of improving and expanding the relations between two countries”.
According to the BBC Turkish, the poem, which had been read by Erdoğan during a military ceremony held in Baku in Azebeijan on 10 December, caused a crisis between Iran and Turkey.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Relations had reacted to Bahtiyar Vahapzade’s poem regarding the historical division of Iran’s lands and called Turkey’s ambassador. Turkey also called Iran’s Ankara ambassador and criticised Iran’s attitude.
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Relations spokesperson Said Hatipzade reacted to the poem and said that he informed ambassador Derya Örs that the time of expansionist empires was over. Hatipzade also added that they would not allow any interventions in their territorial integrity and national security, according to the BBC.
Zarif’s response
Iranian Foreign Minister Cevad Zarif also made a statement, saying, “[President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan was not informed that what he recited in Baku refers to the forcible separation of areas north of Aras from the Iranian motherland. Didn’t he realise that he was undermining the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan? NO ONE can talk about OUR beloved Azerbaijan”.
Pres. Erdogan was not informed that what he ill-recited in Baku refers to the forcible separation of areas north of Aras from Iranian motherland
Didn't he realize that he was undermining the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan?
NO ONE can talk about OUR beloved Azerbaijan
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 11, 2020
Meanwhile 225 Iranian deputies released a letter of condemnation on 13 December against the poem Erdoğan read during the ceremony.
In response, AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik made a statement on social media criticising Iranian politicians.
