Podcasts about turkish iranian

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday, concluding days of funeral rites attended by thousands of mourners after his death in a helicopter crash last week. Experts say the tragedy may well increase tensions between Iran and Turkey, both vying for influence in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands marched in Raisi's home town Mashhad to bid farewell ahead of his burial following processions in the cities of Tabriz, Qom, Tehran and Birjand.The 63-year-old died on Sunday alongside his Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others after their helicopter went down in the country's mountainous northwest while returning from a dam inauguration on the border with Azerbaijan.A huge search and rescue operation was launched, involving help from the European Union, Russia and Turkey before the crash site was located early on Monday. Iran's President Raisi killed in helicopter crash, EU sends condolencesThe Iranian military said that a drone dispatched by Turkey had failed to locate the crash site "despite having night-vison equipment"."Finally, in the early hours of Monday morning, the exact spot of the helicopter crash was discovered by the ground rescue forces and Iranian drones of the armed forces," the military said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.Meanwhile, on Thursday Iran's army said it has so far found no evidence of criminal activity related to the crash.Simmering tensionsThe high profile deaths come as rivalry continues to intensify between Iran and Turkey.  "For Turkey, the future of South Caucasia, Iraq and Syria are critical for its national security. And here in these areas of Turkey, all face Iranian opposition against Turkey's interests," explained Bilgehan Alagoz, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Marmara University. For example, the Turkish military is poised to launch a major offensive in Iraq and Syria against the bases of the Kurdish rebel group PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state.Ankara has repeatedly criticised Tehran for failing to support its efforts, while  Iran is concerned about Turkey encroaching in areas it considers to be in its sphere of influence.  Turkey's Erdogan targets support against Kurdish rebels during Iraq tripThe death of Raisi has brought to the fore bitter memories of the killing by the United States four years ago of Qasim Soleimani, the veteran head of the international operations of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp."These two important personalities had been increasing Iranian influence in the Middle East very strongly," observed Professor of International Relations Huseyin Bagci at Ankara's Middle East Technical University. Bagci says Turkey's diplomatic advantage will no doubt be stronger as Iran heads into presidential elections on 28 June."I don't know if the new foreign minister and President will somehow get the same level of this influence because they will be mostly inexperienced people," he says.Internal fight for powerBagci suggests that a real internal fight for power will be problematic for the country because "Iranian society is much more dynamic and progressive than the regime."There is a partnership between the clerics and the military. But these two institutions are also fighting amongst each other."However, if Iran's Revolutionary Guard increases its power, experts warn that it could also result in a more assertive use of Iranian proxies controlled by the IRGC in Iraq and Syria, which are often as odds with Turkish interests.Alagoz says that the IRGC's view of the region is very problematic because the Iran proxies are a problem for the future of the Middle East."The overconfidence of the IRGC combined with political power will be a destabilising factor in the Middle East, and so Turkey will always be concerned by this issue."With Ankara and Tehran competing for power from Syria and Iraq to Sudan, analysts say the outcome of Iran's transition of power could have significant implications across the region and for Turkish-Iranian relations.

The Iranian president's visit to Turkey this week comes amid deeply strained bilateral tensions as a result of regional rivalries. However, Israel's assault on Gaza stands to alleviate those problems as Tehran and Ankara find common ground in condemning Israel, with Turkey also seeking to position itself as a mediator in the conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's withering verbal attacks on Israel have put him on the same page as his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, who is due to visit Turkey on Tuesday.But Ankara is also concerned about contagion as the Gaza war draws in countries such as Iran and threatens to destabilise the region.'Demoinising' Iran"Turkey does not approve of demonising Iran. It can still have a dialog, and Turkey has the capacity to cooperate with Iran," says Bilgehan Alagoz, of the Centre for Iranian Studies, a Turkish thinktank.Alagoz suggests Erdogan is well placed in his talks with Raisi to keep Iran out of the war: "Turkey also has a dialog with Israel. While there are problems with Israel, we still can talk with Israel and with others, including the United States and European countries." Turkey, Iran put rivalries aside as Gaza conflict provides common groundKeeping Iran and its proxies out of the conflict is a priority for Israel and Turkey's Western allies.Iran has a major role in arming Hamas, says Gallia Lindenstrauss, an analyst with the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv."It is difficult for Israel to concentrate on the Gaza front because the northern front in Israel, the front with Lebanon, is very also very tense," Lindenstrauss says, adding that, "of course, the northern front is all orchestrated by Iran".Raisi in TurkeyErdogan's talks with Raisi aren't expected to be confined to the war in Gaza. Until the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, Turkish-Iranian tensions had been rising amid growing regional rivalry, in particular in the Caucasus.Tehran is alarmed at the military successes of Azerbaijan's forces against ethnic Armenians in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.Iran is a strong ally of Armenia and sees Azerbaijan as an increasing threat to its regional influence. However, much to Iran's annoyance, Turkey strongly backs Azerbaijan with a military alliance."The recent rhetoric adopted by Iran towards Turkey has created some sensitivity, especially regarding the South Caucasus," says Alagoz."Since the beginning of Azerbaijan's liberation activities for the occupied territory in the South Caucasus, Iran has started to adopt anti-Turkey rhetoric." France announces sale of defensive weapons to Armenia as Turkey plays wargames with AzerbaijanBattle of influenceAnalysts also suggest that Tehran is worried Ankara is seeking to limit Iran's influence across the region. These fears have been stoked by deepening cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel.Turkey's expanding its influence into central Asia is adding to Iran's concerns."Turkey's connection to central Asia is still a very serious problem because it's going to increase Turkey's influence here in the region, which Iran is not happy with," says Ilhan Uzgel, a political analyst with the Turkish news portal Kisa Dalga.Tehran's advancing nuclear energy programme is also fuelling bilateral tensions. Turkey is worried that Iran is moving closer to developing a nuclear bomb and triggering a regional nuclear arms race.But at least for now, the Middle East war and fears that it will spread are bringing the two countries closer.

As the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East continues to evolve, several key developments have introduced new dynamics in Turkish-Iranian bilateral ties. The shifting dynamics in Syria have placed Tehran at odds with Ankara during the crisis, but the two regional powers have managed to engage in dialogue through the Astana process, alongside Russia. As Turkish-Syrian relations have shown signs of thawing in recent months, the potential implications for Türkiye-Iran relations remain uncertain. The recent Iran-Saudi Arabia deal, brokered by China, marks a significant milestone in regional diplomacy in a new era of rapprochement between two long-term rivals. The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as the lack of progress in the nuclear file, have potentially significant implications for Türkiye's relations with Iran. How will the Astana process impact their bilateral ties? Can the Iran-Saudi rapprochement open new doors for stability in the Middle East? What role does Iran's nuclear program play in shaping Türkiye's perspective on the regional dynamics? The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the complex regional factors influencing Turkish-Iranian bilateral ties. Speakers Alex Vatanka, Founding Director of the Iran Program, Middle East Institute Hakkı Uygur, President, Center for Iranian Studies (İRAM) Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC Moderator Kilic Kanat, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seta-dc/support

The arrival in a Turkish port of two superyachts belonging to a Russian oligarch is drawing attention to Ankara's policy of refusing to impose sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. There are concerns that Turkey is becoming a safe haven for those seeking to circumvent sanctions.  The arrival of vessels belonging to millionaire Roman Abramovich is adding to suspicions that Turkey could become a refuge for sanctioned oligarchs and their wealth.  Despite Abramovich being targeted by sanctions by both the European Union and Britain, Turkey has so far refused to penalize Russians. There are reports in the Turkish media that Abramovich plans to use Turkey as a base, or planning to buy a Turkish football team. Abramovich invested heavily in London's Chelsea soccer club before British authorities seized control after the oligarch was placed on a sanctioned list. MPs seize control of Chelsea after British government sanctions owner Abramovich Timothy Ash of Bluejay Asset Management says Turkey will face growing scrutiny from its Western allies.  "There has been some focus on reflagging Russian aircraft as Turkish aircraft. There are strong trading and banking relationships between Russia and Turkey. Some media attention on a lot of Russians trying to set up new bank accounts in Turkey, presumably to try to get around some of the problems they are probably encountering," Ash told RFI.  "There has also been concern that Russian companies and entities trying to export or trade with Russia are repackaging themselves as Turkish entities," Ash continues. "I would imagine western governments, including the US, will be talking with their Turkish counterparts and trying to encourage them not to break sanctions. But there is a recognition of Turkey's relatively weak financial position," he concluded.   Iran case "There is a lot of news, unsubstantiated in my view, that oligarchs are parking their money in Turkey," analyst Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners told RFI.  "Turkey has extensive business links, no matter how you define it, with Russia," added Yesilada. "A lot of people hoped that Turkey would become a proxy financial center or intermediary for Russia. I wouldn't put it past the current regime to try to repeat the Reza Zarrab incident - 40 billion dollars of money whitewashed to Iran," he continued.  Reza Zarrab is a Turkish-Iranian businessman who pleaded guilty in 2017 in a New York court to massive charges of violating sanctions against Iran. A senior executive of the Turkish state-owned investment bank Halkbank was convicted and jailed under the same investigation. Halkbank itself is also facing trial on Iranian sanction busting charges.  Ankara insists it is fulfilling its international obligations in enforcing United Nations sanctions. "If you mean whether these oligarchs can do any business in Turkey, then of course, if it is legal and not against international law, I will consider it," said Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Peace brokering Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan argues that financial and economic measures against Moscow are counterproductive. Erdogan claims his country's refusal to join sanctions enables it to be an honest broker in efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. The Turkish President has close ties with both his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, having hosted three days of talks between the warring parties in late March.    The Dutch Prime Minister Paul Rutte recently visited Ankara, becoming the fourth European leader to travel to Turkey since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Rutte appeared to play down any concerns over Turkey's opposition to Russian sanctions at a joint press conference.  EU nations expel dozens of Russian diplomats suspected of spying  "Yes, of course, we would very much favor for Turkey to implement all the sanctions, but I think we also have to be happy with the fact that Turkey is playing now its diplomatic role and its leadership role in trying to end the conflict," said Rutte. With Erdogan appearing to play a prominent role in peace efforts, analysts say Turkey is likely to get - at least in public - the benefit of the doubt over its stance on sanctions. Some analysts say that means more Russian superyachts and their owners could be heading to Turkish marinas earlier than usual, ahead of the traditional summer season. 

The Turkish government has been inviting reporters to document migrant raids and border security construction at the Turkish-Iranian border, which has become a main point of entry for Afghans fleeing the Taliban. It's an effort Turkey is eager to put on display for Western journalists and observers in an effort to show the EU that it is dealing with the migrant issue for the whole bloc. Many analysts, however, see ulterior motives at play, and note that the EU's fear of migration is a tool that Turkish President Erdogan uses to obtain various financial and political incentives from the EU. Nektaria Stamouli, who visited the Turkish-Iranian border, joins The Greek Current to talk about Turkey's migrant security system, the challenges facing Afghans arriving at the border, and how this reflects on Europe. Nektaria Stamouli is a correspondent with Politico based in Athens covering Greece, Cyprus, and the Balkans.Read Nektaria Stamouli's latest piece in Politico here: Turkey puts its migrant security system on display for EuropeYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Italy sending Parthenon fragment to Athens in nudge to UKPetition: Return the Parthenon Sculptures!Cyprus mandates more testing to check rapid COVID-19 spreadSchools opening Monday, cabinet tweaks existing measures

This week I've got some exclusive Bhangra and Desi remixes of huge hits such as Love Nwantiti, also new remixes, Iranian, French, Latin and House music. The show includes a unique ABBA South Asian remix too! Yes, ABBA! Great music, as always from big artists such as Gypsy Kings, Anitta, J Balvin, Diljit Dosanjh, Yoyo Honey Singh, Garry Sandhu, Stereo Nation, Bally Sagoo, plus many more. Jump on board the United Colors World Fusional Flight! Let's go! Mon 10pm PST, Tue 7pm GMT, Tue 2pm EST, and Tue 11.30pm for listeners in India. Hosted by DJ and music producer: @viktoreus 

Fearing a new refugee crisis, Turkey is beefing up its border wall with Iran to block Afghan refugees from entering the country. Scores of civilians fleeing the Taliban regime are escaping to Iran, where they're making the weeks-long journey to the Turkish border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says 300,000 Afghans have already arrived, and he's determined not to let any more in. Our correspondents Shona Bhattacharyya, Ludovic de Foucaud and Hussein Asad report from Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border.

Live SonnyRollins, a Turkish/Iranian collaboration, Tropical Funk & more!

The case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian businessman charged in the Southern District of New York with evading international financial sanctions on Iran has become one of the most important stories in US-Turkish relations. Ashley Swearingen sits down with BPC policy analyst Jessica Michek to breakdown the Zarrab case and discuss what lies ahead for the U.S. and Turkey.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

One man is poised to bring down a "world of hurt" on America's "Nightmare Team"  - Trump Admin. In a sense, Robert Mueller occupies a unique position in pantheon of muckrakers -  he'll far surpass any and all that have preceeded him thus far. As Special Prosecutor, Bob Mueller has enormous access + power and finest legal "team" in the universe.  At last count there were 17 world-class prosecutors working in Mueller's legal team out of Patrick Henry Building in Washington, D.C. There are so many threads to pull on in this Trump Russia probe. There are so many moving parts.  There is so much money and quid-pro-quos going on that it'll be a wonder if anybody will be left standing after all of this, including TRUMP + Vice President PENCE. The latest development for the Mueller team is they now have yet another "cooperating" witness - Reza Zarrab, a Turkish/Iranian gold trader who is now "cooperating" w/Mueller's team in bringing to light ties existing bet. Turkish Pres. Tayyep Recep Erdogan and Michael Flynn, Trump's one-time National Security Advisor but who lasted only 24 days before he was dismissed. Allegedly, Erdogan has offered Flynn upwards of $15-million if he, Flynn, could kidnap Erdogan's main political opposition - (Turkish cleric, Muhammed Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi,) - out of New York City and hustle him back to Turkey. In addition, Flynn has also made hundreds of thousands of dollars as a lobbyist for Turkey - all the while serving in the Trump 2016 campaign - a criminal conflict of interest @ very least. We could also mention that - according to the Wall Street Journal - last month, Oct, Mueller's investigators issued a subpoena to over a dozen top officials in President Donald Trump’s campaign last month, requesting Russia-related documents.

www.trunews.com Rick Wiles: Russia-Iran-Turkey Power Play Over Syria 05 08 17Has Russia spearheaded a power play deal to resolve the Syrian civil war with a Turkish-Iranian enforced no-fly zone? Today on TRUNEWS, Rick Wiles discusses this geopolitical chess move and what role Israel, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia will play in the future of the Middle East. Rick also shares the latest from the White House, including a report that National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has been put in his place by President Trump regarding his usurpation of the Oval Office. The team ends by detailing the Kushner EB-5 visa scandal and the continuing development of the infrastructure for the Dark State's Global Brain.

www.trunews.com Rick Wiles: Russia-Iran-Turkey Power Play Over Syria 05 08 17Has Russia spearheaded a power play deal to resolve the Syrian civil war with a Turkish-Iranian enforced no-fly zone? Today on TRUNEWS, Rick Wiles discusses this geopolitical chess move and what role Israel, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia will play in the future of the Middle East. Rick also shares the latest from the White House, including a report that National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has been put in his place by President Trump regarding his usurpation of the Oval Office. The team ends by detailing the Kushner EB-5 visa scandal and the continuing development of the infrastructure for the Dark State's Global Brain.

Four members of the War on the Rocks squad ended up in Istanbul this week. What could go wrong? Afshon Ostovar of the CNA Corporation, Aaron Stein of RUSI, Joshua Walker of GMF, and Ryan Evans of your favorite outlet on strategy, defense, foreign policy, and booze join you from a lovely garden a stone's throw from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia to talk about the Turkish elections, the implications of the Iranian nuclear negotiations, Turkish-Iranian relations, the Syrian civil war, and Istanbul's best watering holes. Have a listen!