ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tehran on Tuesday, an official one-day visit taking place despite recent tensions over Iran’s role in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Erdogan and his large entourage were received at Tehran’s Sa’dabad Palace by Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, Turkey’s official Anadolu Agency reported.
An earlier statement by Erdogan had said that his visit would focus on “issues of mutual interest.”
The visit is going ahead despite tensions over Erdogan’s comments last month, accusing Iran of trying to take over the region.
“Iran is trying to dominate the region," he had warned at a news conference, as Saudi Arabia began fighting Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.
He had warned that Iran must withdraw whatever forces it has in Yemen and Syria, and accused Tehran of trying to take over Iraq.
Erdogan also accused Iran of fighting to oust the Islamic State – or Daesh – in Iraq in order to boost its own power. Iran has “a sectarian agenda,” he said. Tehran “wants to fill the void that will be created by Daesh,” he added.
