UWI author and political scientist Onur Sinan Güzaltan was guest on the live broadcast of Azerbaijan-based Anewz TV.
Güzaltan answered questions regarding the missile attacks on Türkiye.
To talk about Türkiye’s response to missiles in Turkish airspace and what this could mean for the wider region, I’m joined now by Onur Guzaltan, a political scientist. Onur, very good to have you with us, thanks for joining us.
So, missiles in Turkish airspace and Türkiye is bolstering its air defense. It all sounds pretty worrying. How serious is this being taken in Türkiye?
Firstly, before moving to answer your question, I want to say one thing: This war is a bloody and illegitimate war against Iran.
I think these missiles on Turkish soil are the provocations from the US-Israel side to push Türkiye into this war.
So, you think the missiles were not Iranian at all. You think they were US or Israeli missiles?
Even after the first missile attack, the British officials made a statement that these missiles are not from Iran. So it’s not only me, but the officials, also from the Iranian side, made several statements that these are not Iranian missiles. The ones making these provocations want to push Türkiye into this bloody and illegitimate war.
We saw Mr. Erdoğan giving his strong statements. So, your analysis is that Türkiye was annoyed with the US and Israel because it believes that they fired the missiles? I mean, that’s an extraordinary claim, but it’s very interesting if that is what you’re saying.
If you read the statement of President Erdoğan, you will see that he said all countries in the region have to be aware of possible Zionist provocations. He means that Israel wants to make these kinds of provocations to drive a wedge between the countries of the region, like between Türkiye and Iran or Azerbaijan and Iran.
So, I think that all these missile attacks are open provocations from the American and Israeli side, because now they are losing this war. They want to create a larger front against Iran.
“If the US-Israel were winning this war, why would they want to stop it?”
So Iranian missile stocks will be fully replete then, because I guess by your analysis, they haven’t actually fired any yet.
Personally, I don’t have any information about the Iranian missile stocks. But I can share my analysis from what I am observing. After the 10th day of this war, President Trump declared that we are close to the end of the war. The former foreign minister of Iran openly stated that some countries are looking for mediation between the US and Iran. I think the American side wants to stop this war now. And the question, why now? Because if they were winning this war, why would they want to stop it?
Yeah, that is a good question to ask. NATO allies coordinating closely with Ankara. What kind of support and coordination do you think that they might actually bring?
When there was a coup attempt in Türkiye on 15th of July in 2016, NATO officials didn’t make any statements. But about these so-called “Iranian attacks on Türkiye”, NATO Secretary General made a statement immediately, like someone who has found a treasure. I believe that the ones governing NATO also want to push Türkiye to join this war. They are also part of this conspiracy from the American and Israeli side.
For almost 40 years, Türkiye has been fighting against the PKK/YPG/ PYD terrorist group. Where were these NATO officials when we were fighting against these terrorist groups? But now, when it is against Iran, when it’s about inciting a regional conflict, they started making statements without waiting for any official proof.
Do you also believe that the drones that have been attacking the Gulf states were sort of secretly the US and Israel too? Or did Iran actually fire those?
Several Gulf officials made statements that some of these drones, which targeted the civil areas, are not from the Iranian side. And Iran also declared that they targeted American bases on the Gulf countries, but not the civil areas.
President Erdoğan warned that these violations of Turkish airspace can’t be justified under any circumstances. I mean, that’s a strong message from a strong leader. What is, do you think, his overall message to the region right now in relation to this conflict?
Türkiye is a sovereign country. Türkiye will defend its territory and national unity. Türkiye will continue to follow its policy of balance between the West and the East. Türkiye will not be part of any war launched by the US and Israel against our regional allies like Iran. These countries are our neighbors, and there is no reason for Türkiye to take part in this kind of illegitimate war. So, I think that’s what President Erdoğan means.
And finally, Onur, what’s your sense about the risks of this conflict spilling over into other countries? How concerned should Türkiye be about the possibility of a slight miscalculation causing something very unpleasant?
Türkiye has dialogue channels with its neighbors. Especially with Iran, we share the same, unchanged borders since 1639. Türkiye and Iran are the countries with thousands of years of state traditions. The brotherhood between Türkiye and Iran would persist.
Onur, we thank you for your views, for your analysis. Thank you very much for joining us.
Thank you too.
