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Turkish-Iran relations in a changing Middle East / F. Stephen Larrabee, Alizera Nader

Author
Larrabee, F. Stephen
Published
Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2013.
Physical Description
xi, 46 pages ; 28 cm
Additional Creators
Nader, Alireza, Intelligence Policy Center (U.S.), Rand Corporation, and National Intelligence Council (U.S.)
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Contents
Introduction -- Turkey and Iran in a Changing Middle East -- Israel and the Palestinian Issue -- Central Asia and the Caucasus -- The Nuclear Issue -- The Economic Dimension -- Prospects for the Future.
Summary
Turkish-Iranian cooperation has visibly intensified in recent years, thanks in part to Turkish energy needs and Iran’s vast oil and natural gas resources. However, Turkey and Iran tend to be rivals rather than close partners. While they may share certain economic and security interests, especially regarding the Kurdish issue, their interests are at odds in many areas across the Middle East. Turkey’s support for the opposition in Syria, Iran’s only true state ally in the Middle East, is one example. Iraq has also become a field of growing competition between Turkey and Iran. Iran’s nuclear program has been a source of strain and divergence in U.S.-Turkish relations. However, the differences between the United States and Turkey regarding Iran’s nuclear program are largely over tactics, not strategic goals. Turkey’s main fear is that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear arms could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. This, in turn, could increase pressure on the Turkish government to consider developing its own nuclear weapon capability. U.S. and Turkish interests have become more convergent since the onset of the Syrian crisis. However, while U.S. and Turkish interests in the Middle East closely overlap, they are not identical. Thus, the United States should not expect Turkey to follow its policy toward Iran unconditionally. Turkey has enforced United Nations sanctions against Iran but, given Ankara’s close energy ties to Tehran, may be reluctant to undertake the harshest measures against Iran.
Report Numbers
RAND/RR-258-NIC
Subject(s)
ISBN
9780833080110 (pbk. : alk. paper)
0833080113 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Note
"RAND National Defense Research Institute."
"This research was sponsored by the National Intelligence Council and conducted within the Intelligence Policy Center of the RAND National Defense Research Institute"--Pref.
Bibliography Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-46).
Other Forms
Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.
View MARC record | catkey: 11338539