Studying the Patterns of Cooperation and Conflict in Iran-Turkey Relations

The current paper seeks to study the mutual ties between Iran and Turkey in different epochs. The main discussion presented in the paper is that Iran and Turkey are two important regional actors of different roles and influence, which at the same time are complementary to one another, and whose influence and power in the region have been consolidated in the course of history. As a result of contemporary changes in the geopolitics of the Middle East there have been ups and downs in Iran-Turkey mutual relations. It is safe to say that the relations between Iran and Turkey, in a historical perspective from the Safavid dynasty to the present time, have always been that of confrontation, opportunistic maneuvers, cooperation and also mirrored regional conflict and rivalries. Despite political, cultural and economic heterogeneity and divergent factors in the mutual relations, the two countries have always observed the terms of peaceful coexistence and amity and have held extensive interactions and cooperation in different areas. However in some historical period cooperation and convergence have been more outstanding in the mutual relations.