Maryam Sinaiee Foreign Correspondent
TEHRAN // Iran and Turkey had differing views about how the two-day working trip of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, could serve their national interests, but neither side seems to have accomplished much of what they had hoped, analysts say.
Abdullah Gul, his Turkish host, had been eyeing the possibilities of establishing a mediatory role for Turkey between Iran and the West, despite pressure from the United States and Israel not to host the Iranian president.
Before and during the visit, which wrapped up on Friday, the Turkish media largely focused on Mr Gul’s mediation initiative. His success in establishing such a role for Turkey, a Nato member, could have greatly strengthened his Islamist Justice and Development Party’s position in Turkey, which pits him and his party against his secular opponents, who had opposed the visit, the analysts said.
“It was clever of the Turks to attempt to assume such a mediatory role,” said Mohammed Atrianfar, a high-ranking member of Iran’s reformist Servants of Construction Party and a journalist. “Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West is of such international importance that many countries will be very willing to mediate between Iran and the West if Iran shows interest in backing away from the position it has had over the past three years.”
Iran might prefer to talk about suspending uranium enrichment, which can be used to help build an atomic bomb, in direct negotiations with major European powers, and perhaps might not see the point of involving Turkey in the process, Mr Atrianfar said.
At a joint press conference during his visit, the Iranian president praised Mr Gul’s support for dialogue and diplomacy as the solution to the nuclear problem, but he did not signal any change in the position he has maintained.
In an interview with CNN before his trip, Mr Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran’s nuclear issue was neither a technical nor a judicial one, and that no mediation from Turkey was required.
Iran insists that all its nuclear activities meet the regulations set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, of which Iran is a signatory.
Ali Majedi, a former Iranian deputy foreign minister in economic affairs and a former ambassador to Japan, said he does not believe that Turkey or any other country could play a mediating role between Iran and the West.
“Some countries may convey messages between Iran and the West, but given the circumstances in Iran, it seems too far-fetched to me that any country, including Turkey, would be able to play an actual and effective mediating role,” Mr Majedi said.
Turkey has shown support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme to meet the country’s energy needs. But analysts believe it would be wrong to assume that Turkey will go any further than offering its support.
“Turkey’s long-term strategic interests are defined within their relations with the West. They are a member of Nato and are trying to join the European Union. They can only be interested in maintaining their good relations with Iran,” Mr Atrianfar said.
If Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West intensifies, Turkey and most other countries will avoid spoiling their relations with the West for the sake of economic relations with Iran, Mr Majedi believes.
Mr Ahmadinejad’s government had been hoping to sign a natural gas deal with Turkey, one that would allow Iran to export its own gas as well as gas bought from Turkmenistan to Europe through a pipeline in Turkey. The Iranian president was accompanied by Parviz Fattah, Iran’s oil minister, on his visit to Turkey. Iran hoped to close a gas deal worth $3.5 billion (Dh12.9bn) with Turkey.
The two countries failed to reach an agreement over differences on pricing and conditions for investment. Mr Ahmadinejad and his Turkish counterpart said reaching a deal of this kind is time consuming and that negotiations would continue.
The Iranian media said that if signed during the visit, the gas deal could have been considered a defeat for the United States and its allies and a victory for Mr Ahmadinejad.
The United States had opposed the deal and warned Turkey of consequences of signing the deal with Iran.
A deal of this kind could strengthen the position of Mr Ahmadinejad domestically, too. He has been under heavy criticism from his political opponents in Iran for the economic failures of his government, including the inability to attract foreign investment.
During Mr Ahmadinejad’s visit the two countries signed five protocols, including one on co-operation against terrorism. The two countries have for years worked together in this regard and share intelligence on armed separatist Kurdish groups.
“The issue of Kurds is a matter of national interest to both Iran and Turkey regardless of what governments rule in these countries. Security co-operation in this regard will therefore always be desirable and sought by both sides,” Mr Majedi said.
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