Iran's expansionist dream and its implications for the Muslim world

Türkiye is preparing for one of the most important elections in its recent history, with debates and developments in domestic politics being just one aspect of the process. The results of the elections are a significant matter for the international community, not just for Türkiye, as they can affect global balances. The United States, Europe, Russia, China, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Gulf, the Balkans, and Africa are just some of the regions that will feel the impact of the outcome. Therefore, an unprecedented number of interested parties are following the election with great interest, and Türkiye has become the focus of attention for many ears and eyes. The foreign press is continuously reporting on the events, even including details that some in Türkiye might be hesitant to discuss.

When we examine the matter through the lens of the power centers around Türkiye, we can confidently say that Iran is one of the countries that is most closely watching the elections. This is because Türkiye is a powerful player that makes its own decisions, is present at every table, has a strong defense industry, and has the potential to be a role model for the Islamic world, all of which are significant obstacles to Iran's expansionist and religious policies. Iran is therefore eagerly awaiting a possible change in power, as it sees that the Table of Seven is making entirely different promises and has the potential to steer Türkiye in a completely new direction. Iran's dream is to have a weak and powerless Türkiye that it can easily manipulate and control, infiltrate its social and religious structures, and drag along behind it. Despite the fiery anti-American or anti-Israel rhetoric from official channels, Türkiye is Iran's biggest rival in terms of foreign policy perception and may even be described as a "foe" in certain situations. By carefully following the Iranian press, politicians' statements, and speeches during crises, you will find plenty of concrete evidence to support this point.

In this context, the claim that Iranian Ambassador to Ankara Muhammad Farazmend made a statement to Saadet Party leader Temel Karamollaoğlu after the elections, saying, "Our expectation is that Türkiye will withdraw its military presence in Syria," is not baseless or unsupported. Even though the Iranian Embassy denied the claim after two days of discussion, everyone knows that Iranian decision-makers think exactly this way.

It is well-known that the Saadet Party provides unconditional support to Iran and refrains from criticizing Iran's expansionist and sectarian agenda. Despite numerous undeniable facts, including the bloodshed in Syria, the atrocities committed by Shia militias from various countries around the world who were brought to Syria, and Iran's clear alignment with Armenia against Azerbaijan, the Saadet Party leadership has not changed its stance. Instead, they prefer to cling to cheap conspiracy theories, make ridiculous explanations, attempt to redirect anger towards other countries and drag their own supporters into an illusion.

Iran's pragmatic relationship with the PKK and its affiliates must also be taken into account. While the US and some European countries are at the forefront of Türkiye's fight against the PKK and YPG, Iran is involved in the process as a "secret partner." Although Washington is cursed as the "Great Satan" in Tehran's official language, Iran's interests in Syria - and in Iraq - are aligned with those of the US.

In this context, we can see that Iran's strategy of reducing the number of fronts in order to focus more easily on its regional agenda lies behind the diplomatic relations it has re-established with Saudi Arabia.

There are two answers to the question "Why should we oppose Iran when they are our brothers?" The short answer is that states cannot be brothers, but they can form alliances or partnerships based on their interests. The long answer is that it is understandable for any country with regional and international goals to pursue a strategy of infiltration and influence in its surroundings. However, the key determinant of Iran's strategy is its exclusionary and even takfiri approach to Sunnis, who make up the majority of Muslims, due to the nature of Shiism. This delicate point makes Iran's expansionism dangerous for the Islamic world, leaving Muslim territories vulnerable and defenseless against external attacks.