personWikipedia

Iran's parliamentary speaker

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey maintain bilateral relations. The two states have a complex relationship, by competing over influence in Syria and the Caucasus through supporting opposing proxies as part of a proxy conflict. However, both countries also have some shared interests, as both are trade and economic partners. Their relationship is centuries old, dating to the 16th century when Sunni Ottoman Empire and the Shia Safavid empire fought each other for centuries. The two countries are also major trade partners and are perceived as mutually interdependent due to geographical proximity as well as historically shared cultural, linguistic, and ethnic traits.