March 2, 2026 | New York Sun
Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Spare Turkey, Tehran’s Quiet Ally Within the North Atlantic Treaty
The Islamic Republic’s thugs remember Erdogan’s kindness, and they see a strategic use for him.
March 2, 2026 | New York Sun
Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Spare Turkey, Tehran’s Quiet Ally Within the North Atlantic Treaty
The Islamic Republic’s thugs remember Erdogan’s kindness, and they see a strategic use for him.
Excerpt
Call President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sentimental, if not cynical: he wants you to think he’s had a uniquely rough week. The death of a good friend, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly left him in grief — but as the Islamic Republic attacks soldiers and civilians across the Middle East, Turkey’s immunity merits examination.
Turkey, despite hosting a sizable American force presence on major regional bases, is not among the myriad countries Iran has targeted with drones and missiles since February 28.
Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where William Doran is an intern.