Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sparked controversy on Monday during a cabinet meeting by claiming Tabriz, an Iranian city, as part of “Turkey’s spiritual geography.” This statement has triggered widespread negative reactions across Iranian media both domestically and internationally.
This marks the second time in recent days that Erdogan has attempted to attribute Iranian heritage to Turkey. Last week, coinciding with Nowruz celebrations, he described this several-thousand-year-old Iranian tradition as “a common celebration of the Turkic world.” These claims come amid widespread protests in major Turkish cities against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political rival.
Analysts suggest these controversial statements may be aimed at diverting public attention from Turkey’s internal problems. Turkey was established in 1923 following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after its defeat in World War I, while Tabriz has historically been an integral part of Iranian territory throughout centuries.
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