Pages: 81-86

Abstract

Undoubtedly,no other eventin recent yearscan be compared with Syrian developmentsin its capability of fosteringpolitical polarization that reminds us the Cold War era. Meanwhile, the positions and policies of regional and international players have given new forms to political equilibrium, with the confrontation of some of the old friends, and on the other hand bringing together strategic rivals in the Syrian politics. This crisis has affected theregional relations between Iran and Turkey and given rise to challenges in the relations between the two countries. The most important finding of the present article, which has been reached via using descriptive-analytical method, is the fact that Iran's and Turkey's foreign policies towards the Syrian crisis are based on maintaining national interests and increasing regional power. While Iran supports the Syrian government and its president, Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has supported the regime's opponents in Syria. This has affected the relations between Iran and Turkey, and has brought Iran-Turkey relations into a new phase.