Talk of Türkiye being targeted by Israel and the United States is no longer merely a conspiracy theory. It is now being discussed openly, and voiced by senior Turkish officials themselves – such as Foreign Minister, who stated just days ago: “Israel cannot live without an artificially constructed external enemy, and therefore it will turn against Türkiye after it is done confronting Iran.”
This raises a deeper question: Does Israel view Türkiye and Iran as a single civilizational bloc, rather than as two distinct and historically rival civilizations? What many may overlook is that Iran, for nearly a thousand years, functioned as a vital sphere of Turkish influence, with a remarkable degree of overlap between the two.
For nearly ten consecutive centuries, Iran was ruled by dynasties of Turkish origin, until power shifted to the Persian-rooted Pahlavi family in 1925. This often-overlooked reality reveals the depth of the Turkish-Iranian relationship and paints a far more complex picture of how Iranian identity evolved over time.
The Turkish rule of Iran began with the Ghaznavid Empire in 962, founded by Sabuktigin, and reached its height under Mahmud of Ghazni. It was followed by the Seljuk Empire (1037-1194), which unified Iran and much of West and Central Asia under a strong central authority, flourishing especially under Malik-Shah I.
The Khwarazmian Empire later extended Turkish influence across vast parts of Iran before collapsing under the Mongol invasions led by Genghis Khan. This marked the end of one of the most dynamic phases of Iranian history.
This legacy shows that Turkish-Iranian relations are not merely about geography or temporary political interests, but a deeply rooted civilizational partnership.
In the 15th century, Tamerlane founded the Timurid Empire, blending Turkic and Mongol heritage while embracing Turkish culture and ruling Iran from Samarkand and Herat. Around the same time, rival Turkoman confederations – the QaraQoyunlu and AqQoyunlu – competed for control over Iran and surrounding regions.
The Safavid Empire (1501-1736) played a decisive role in shaping modern Iran by establishing Twelver Shiism as the state religion. Yet its ruling elite and military base were of Azerbaijani Turkish origin. The Safavids also fought prolonged wars with the Ottoman Empire, reshaping the region repeatedly.
After them came the Afsharid dynasty under Nader Shah and then the Qajar dynasty (1796-1925), the last Turkish-origin rulers of Iran. This long sequence ended when Reza Shah Pahlavi took power in 1925, restoring rule to a Persian-rooted dynasty after nearly a millennium.
A striking paradox defines this history: although rulers were ethnically Turkish, they adopted Persian language and culture in governance, literature, and art – forming what is known as the “Turco-Persian tradition,” a fusion that still shapes both cultures today.
Even now, Turkic groups make up a significant portion of Iran’s population, including Azerbaijanis and others. Some analysts argue that Azerbaijani Turkish influence remains visible within Iran’s leadership. The Supreme Leader is widely believed to be of Azerbaijani Turkish descent, and President also belongs to this ethnic group.
In the end, this intertwined history shows that Turkish-Iranian relations are far more than simple neighbourly ties. They represent a deep civilizational partnership spanning centuries, with cultural and linguistic bonds that endure despite political divisions.
So, one must ask: was joking when he recently threatened Persian civilization, or does this reflect a broader strategic view? If Turkish and Persian civilizations have long been intertwined, it raises the possibility that Washington and Tel Aviv may now be viewing Ankara and Tehran through the same lens.
[Faisal Al-Kasim in Al-Quds Al-Arabi]
Compiled and Translated by Faizul Haque