In their common history, Turkey and Iran have often tested each other’s power and patience, but whenever relations came to the brink of real conflict, they always found a way to de-escalate. Recent developments have revived their deeply rooted mutual distrust.

The black cat is, of course, Syria. But now both countries are looking to lean on each other. Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani seeks a moderate Iranian diplomacy around the concept of “heroic flexibility,” a reference to Imam Hasan’s legacy of peace. Aiming to reduce tensions with the West, Rouhani’s approach offers an equally good opportunity for a new beginning with Turkey, and statements by both sides signal willingness to grasp it. The rhetoric that “Turkey’s regional influence will diminish if the United States and its European allies move closer to Iran” is now obsolete and no longer affordable.

Cicek’s Shiraz tour

Parliament speaker Cemil Cicek, an influential figure in government policies, spent five days in Iran, starting on Sept. 21. He met not only with his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani, but also with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rouhani, Expediency Council Chairman Hashemi Rafsanjani and First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. The high-level reception Cicek received highlights not only the urgency of a bilateral thaw but also a desire to overcome the difficult juncture with minimal damage.