Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Tehran today for talks with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts. At the top of the agenda is the ongoing Syrian conflict, now in its 11th year.
Russia, Turkey, and Iran have met in recent years to discuss Syria as part of the so-called “Astana Peace Process.”
All three countries are involved in Syria. Russia and Iran both provide extensive support to Syria. Iran has been a massive part of Assad’s military force on the ground. Russia has provided aerial support for the military, not to mention political support.
Turkey is also involved in Syria, but from the other side, supporting the revolutionary forces.
The summit today comes as Turkish President Reception Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch a new offensive in northern Syria against Kurdish Syrian forces, who Turkey sees as “terrorists,” but countries in the West — including the U.S. — back the Kurdish forces.
Iran is deeply against this. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has already warned that any Turkish military action could “destabilize the region.”
Turkish experts say that Turkey wants the blessing of Moscow and Iran before launching its operation against the Kurds in Syria. But Russia has already expressed hope that Turkey would “refrain” from launching the attack too.
For months, Turkey has offered to meet with Putin in a bid to help resolve heightened global tensions since the Ukraine invasion began. Russian analysts and experts say that the timing of this summit is no coincidence, and have pointed out that Turkey wants to conduct a “special operation” in Syria just as Russia continues its “special operation” in Ukraine.
Turkey fears a strong Kurdish presence on its border with Syria will embolden the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a banned group that for decades has been waging an insurgency against Turkey that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
The meeting’s agenda has highlighted how important Syria is for Iran, showcasing that the ongoing conflict remains Tehran’s first priority.
By hosting Putin and Erdogan, Iran hopes it will receive backing from Russia and Turkey, and that Iran could become a key broker to what happens in Syria.
The meeting marks the seventh meeting of the three presidents on Syria.
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