TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General
Aziz Nasirzadeh and his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler met in
Ankara, where they discussed expanding military cooperation.
October 04, 2025
ANKARA, Turkey – In a significant move that underscores shifting geopolitical alignments in the Middle East, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh met with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler, in Ankara this week to expand military cooperation and forge a stronger regional security partnership.
The high-level talks, held at the official invitation of the Turkish Chief of General Staff, highlight a growing convergence of interests between the two regional powers, despite Turkey's long-standing membership in the NATO alliance.
General Nasirzadeh, speaking to reporters, emphasized the visit as a crucial platform for direct discussions on bilateral defense matters and pressing regional issues. He stressed the deep cultural and religious bonds between the two nations, suggesting that any existing differences are "minor compared with shared interests."
"Strengthening defense and security ties with neighboring countries is a top priority for Tehran's foreign policy," Nasirzadeh stated. He described Turkey as a "key Muslim nation" with significant political, economic, and military influence, adding that enhanced military cooperation between Ankara and Tehran could be instrumental in "addressing challenges facing the Islamic world and the region."
The meeting raises complex questions for the West, particularly for the NATO alliance, in which Turkey possesses the second-largest military. This overture towards Iran—a nation under heavy Western sanctions and viewed as a primary adversary by the United States and Israel—is seen by many analysts as another step in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's pursuit of a more independent and assertive foreign policy.
Critics have long argued that Erdogan's strategic vision involves re-establishing Turkey as a dominant regional hegemon, drawing on the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. This strategy involves balancing Turkey's commitments to Western allies with pragmatic, and at times opportunistic, partnerships with powers like Russia and Iran. For President Erdogan, NATO membership provides a security guarantee and access to advanced technology—recently underscored by the U.S. approval of F-16 fighter jet sales—while he simultaneously cultivates relationships that challenge the Western-led security order.
While Iran and Turkey have been on opposing sides in regional conflicts, notably in Syria, they have also found common ground in areas such as countering Kurdish separatist groups and managing regional trade. This new emphasis on military and security collaboration signals a desire to formalize their alignment on key issues, potentially creating a new power bloc capable of shaping regional outcomes independent of American or European influence.
The discussions in Ankara are expected to cover intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism efforts, and potential collaboration in the defense industry. As both nations navigate a complex landscape of regional rivalries and economic pressures, this burgeoning partnership could redefine the security architecture of the Middle East, leaving Western capitals to reassess Turkey's role as a reliable NATO ally.