Iran warns Turkey over minister's comments on regional interference

Turkey's move followed a meeting at Iran's Foreign Ministry, where Turkey's ambassador met with Mahmoud Heydari, the ministry's Director General for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, on Monday.

The meeting was prompted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent remarks regarding Iran's role in Syria.

"The mutual interests of our nations and the delicate regional situation necessitate the avoidance of inaccurate statements and unfounded analyses that could strain bilateral relations," Heydari stated.

Fidan, in an interview with Al Jazeera, had described Iran's reliance on militias as dangerous and called for a policy shift.

He also suggested that "if you are attempting to destabilize a third country, other nations may reciprocate by supporting groups within your own borders."

Earlier on Monday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson acknowledged disagreements between Tehran and Ankara.

"We place great value on our bilateral relationship with Turkey," Esmaeil Baghaei said. "However, the recurring remarks we have heard were counterproductive, requiring Iran to articulate its position firmly and clearly."

Baghaei further added, "Perhaps our Turkish counterparts should give greater consideration to the policies of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Syria and the wider region."

"The phrase 'we do not negotiate under sanctions' is not accurate; rather, we 'do not negotiate under maximum pressure,'" she said.

Her remarks came as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ruled out direct talks with Donald Trump, who reinstated severe sanctions last month. The US president defended his approach, saying reports of a planned military strike on Iran were greatly exaggerated and that he preferred a deal.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he supported negotiations but has aligned with Khamenei’s decision against engaging in talks. Addressing parliament on Sunday, he said his initial stance had been for diplomatic engagement but deferred to the Supreme Leader's position.

"Negotiation is a voluntary act," Mohajerani said. "No one can force another person to sit at the negotiating table."

Amid mounting political shifts, Mohajerani dismissed concerns that recent resignations and dismissals could fracture government unity.

"Impeachment or resignation of an individual does not take us away from national unity in solving people's problems," she said, referring to the ousting of Vice-President Mohammad Javad Zarif and Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati.

Zarif, known for his role in the 2015 nuclear deal, tendered his forced resignation on Sunday, though Pezeshkian has not accepted it. Mohajerani confirmed that "one side of a resignation is its acceptance, which has not yet been granted by Pezeshkian."

Zarif later wrote on X that he stepped down following a meeting with Iran’s judiciary chief, who advised him to "return to the university to prevent further pressure on the government."

With economic concerns mounting, Mohajerani acknowledged the challenges but stressed that solutions would take time. "The country's economic issues did not emerge overnight and will not be resolved overnight either," she said.

Iran’s parliament impeached Economy Minister Hemmati on Sunday, bringing his tenure to an end after lawmakers blamed him for the country’s worsening economic crisis.

The vote followed a heated session in which Hemmati defended his record while critics pointed to the surging exchange rate and rising inflation, blaming him for its worsening since coming to office.

Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati was impeached by Parliament while Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif resigned under pressure last week.

Hardliners accused Hemmati of failing to curb rising prices, inflation, and the devastating devaluation of Iran’s rial, while Zarif faced criticism over his family members' US citizenship. Pezeshkian had strongly defended both men.

The key question in Iranian newspapers on Monday was, "Will hardliners stop here?" Some outlets predicted that attacks on Pezeshkian and his government would continue.

Political commentators speaking to Persian-language media outside Iran said that anyone in Pezeshkian's position would have resigned almost immediately.

Inside Iran, however, commentators remained silent or were too intimidated to voice opinions that could be seen as undermining the government's integrity or sowing discord among officials.

What media, commentators, and politicians in Iran did not say was that Hemmati was impeached for economic problems rooted in Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s refusal to negotiate with the United States to address Iran’s chronic economic crisis. While many have acknowledged in recent months that US sanctions are the primary driver of Iran’s economic hardships, they have consistently avoided blaming Khamenei for the situation.

Even Pezeshkian and Hemmati, who detailed Iran’s deep economic problems in their speeches at the Majles, avoided explicitly naming Khamenei as the culprit. However, Pezeshkian made it clear: "I wanted to negotiate with the United States, but Khamenei forbade negotiations, and therefore, I said we won't negotiate."

That statement alone was damning. Pezeshkian was desperately trying to convey to the nation that the suffering was not his fault. From Khamenei’s perspective, shifting the blame to the economy minister helped absolve the Supreme Leader of responsibility for prolonging the country’s financial hardships.

With Khamenei dominating the country's political and media landscape, Pezeshkian has little room to further defend himself. He is likely to be left isolated, facing intensified attacks from hardliners who oppose his presidency and have never hidden their desire to unseat him.

The pro-reform website Fararu quoted former government spokesman Ali Rabiei as saying, "Pezeshkian has more difficult days ahead of him."

Other reformists, including cleric Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former aide to President Mohammad Khatami, criticized Pezeshkian for his attempts to unify with hardliners. Abtahi argued that Pezeshkian appointed ultraconservatives to key positions in his government without securing their support for his administration.

Tehran's former mayor Gholam Hossein Karbaschi, who is currently the proprietor of centrist Ham Miham daily, wrote: "The hardliners will be further emboldened if Pezeshkian does not object and keeps giving concessions to ultraconservatives."

Karbaschi advised Pezeshkian that "There should be a limit to the idea of national reconciliation." He added that Hemmati's impeachment was a factional move and is not likely to bring about any improvement in the country's economic situation." He explained that the "ultraconservatives always held a grudge against Hemmati since June 2021 when he was competing with ultraconservative figureheads Saeed Jalili and Ebrahim Raisi as presidential candidate and questioned their understanding of the country's economy."

Referring to "the failure of national reconciliation as Pezeshkian's main project," proreform Rouydad24 warned the Iranian President: "Reconciliations with others in power has failed. Think of reconciling with the people."

"I call again on the authorities to repeal the (hijab) law fully and permanently, along with all other laws and practices that discriminate against women and girls," Turk said.

In December, Iran postponed the implementation of the controversial hijab law that imposes severe penalties on women and girls who defy veiling requirements, following huge backlash from the public and the international community.

Despite this, Iranian authorities continue to crack down on women who appear unveiled in public.

He also called for the release of all detained human rights defenders and an end to arbitrary arrests and imprisonment. Expressing concern over a sharp rise in executions, Turk noted that more than 900 cases were reported last year.

"I have urged the Iranian authorities to place an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty," he added.

At least 54 political prisoners are currently on death row in Iran, according US-based rights group Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), with 19 having their convictions upheld by higher courts of the Islamic Republic

In 2024, a total of 31 women were executed in Iran, the highest annual number in 17 years.

"From a legal and diplomatic perspective, this serves as a wake-up call to consider whether international relations are reverting to the 19th century, where power, intimidation, and pressure dictated interactions between countries," Esmail Baghaei said during his weekly briefing.

He also spoke about a number of other issues, including the ouster of former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as a top presidential aide and Russia's possible role in mediating between Tehran and the Trump administration.

The spokesman also contended that Iran has long rejected reliance on outside powers. “What matters for us and our region is that security must be self-sustained, with regional countries taking the lead in ensuring stability and security in West Asia and the Persian Gulf through their own efforts and cooperation.”

Following the Trump-Zelensky exchange, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office reposted his 2022 remarks warning against reliance on the West.

Banners reflecting this message have also appeared across Tehran, featuring phrases such as “End of the mirage” and “Leaning on the wind.”

Tensions with Turkey addressed

Baghaei also addressed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent remarks on Iran’s role in the region.

“We highly value our bilateral relations with Turkey,” he said, but added, “The remarks we have heard were unconstructive. Perhaps our Turkish friends should reflect more on the impact of their policies.”

Fidan recently told Al Jazeera that Iran’s costly efforts in Iraq and Syria have yielded little. He said he had conveyed this view to Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani before Soleimani’s 2020 killing in a US drone strike.

Zarif resignation

Responding to a question on whether Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif’s resignation could be interpreted as a message to foreign parties, Baghaei said, "Surely, you do not expect me to comment on how others interpret the country’s internal developments?"

"Mr. Zarif has clearly expressed his own views in the message he issued."

Baghaei also confirmed that President Masoud Pezeshkian had received Zarif’s resignation letter.

Zarif, the architect of 2015 nuclear deal, said he stepped down after a meeting with Iran’s judiciary chief. “He advised me to return to the university to prevent further pressure on the government,” Zarif wrote on X.

Mediation efforts over US ties

In response to a question about whether Russia has offered to mediate between Iran and the United States, he said: "It is natural for countries to express their willingness to mediate Iran-US negotiations as an act of goodwill and assistance."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Tehran last month sparked speculation in Iranian media about whether he is carrying a message from Washington or pushing Moscow’s own agenda at Iran’s expense.

About the possibility of the UAE mediating between Iran and the US, Baghaei said: "Given the significance of this matter, many parties may express their willingness to facilitate discussions. From this perspective, it is natural for countries to consider offering assistance if needed."