From Caucasus to Iraq: How Israel’s war hands Turkey edge over Iran
After the war with Israel, a wounded Iran opens new doors for Turkey from Iraq to the Caucasus, but advancing its agenda could rekindle their rivalry.
ANKARA — The Israel-Iran war gave Ankara and Tehran an opportunity to publicly set aside their rivalry, but the calm may not last, as a weakened Iran could give Turkey an opening to push its own agendas, heightening their long-running competition in the region.
Despite the temporary easing of tensions, the underlying rivalry between Turkey and Iran remains deeply entrenched, shaped by decades of competing ambitions for regional dominance in politics, security, and economic advantage.
Iran’s military setbacks at the hands of Israel and the United States have created a window of opportunity for Turkey to advance its strategic goals, especially in the key arenas of Iraq, Syria, and the South Caucasus, but Tehran’s resilience and ability to leverage proxy networks could be barriers in Ankara's path.
Generations old rivalry
