Assessing the Barriers to Convergence of Iran-Turkey Relations in the AKP Period

After the military presence in Turkish politics ended, the AKP gained the opportunity to gain public trust in Turkey for nearly two decades. The history of Iran-Turkey relations as two effective neighbors in the Middle East shows that the relations between the two countries have always been up and down. So the question is, what are the main obstacles to the integration of Iran and Turkey in the AKP era? This descriptive-analytical study seeks to answer this question by pointing out that Turkey's relations with Israel, the difference between the attitude of Iran and Turkey to the Syrian crisis, and the regional rivalry of the two countries in the Middle East are leading the way in the integration of the two countries. To explain this research, a theoretical framework of pragmatism with adherence to modernism in Turkish foreign policy is considered. The AKP's pragmatism in foreign policy has played a decisive role in Turkey's strategies and goals.