Cevdet Yılmaz’s Message in Tehran: “The Pain of the Iranian Nation is Our Pain”

Attendance at the Funeral and Expression of Deep Sympathy Cevdet Yılmaz, the Vice President of Turkey, representing Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish government, arrived in Tehran to participate in the state funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the late leader of Iran. Upon arrival and on the sidelines of the ceremony, Yılmaz emphasized the historical and civilizational ties between the two countries, stating that Turkey stands by its neighbor during these difficult days [3][5]. In a message that was widely reflected in regional media, he clarified: “Iran and Turkey are two ancient countries of this geography that share a common civilization and past. We are two brotherly and neighboring countries, and the pain of the Iranian nation is our pain” [4].

Meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian and Emphasis on Regional Stability During this trip, Cevdet Yılmaz met and held talks with Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, at Saadabad Palace. In this meeting, Yılmaz emphasized Turkey's firm position on the necessity of maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. Referring to recent tensions and attacks that led to the loss of senior Iranian officials, he noted that Turkey in no way desires the expansion of war in the region [1][2]. Yılmaz also referred to the recent memorandum between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that these agreements would turn into a lasting peace. He emphasized that Ankara will use all diplomatic channels to prevent further conflicts [1].

Economic Cooperation and Opposition to Sanctions Another part of the Turkish Vice President's remarks in Tehran was dedicated to bilateral economic relations. Criticizing international sanctions against Iran, Yılmaz stated that these sanctions primarily punish the Iranian nation and hinder the economic prosperity of the region [1][4]. Expressing satisfaction with the process of reducing some restrictions, he insisted on the target of achieving a $30 billion trade volume between Tehran and Ankara. Cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, transportation, and natural gas transfer were among the main axes of the economic talks during this trip [2][4].

Message of Solidarity and the Future of Relations At the conclusion of his meetings, while conveying the special greetings and condolences of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the government and people of Iran, Cevdet Yılmaz announced that the President of Turkey will travel to Iran at the head of a high-ranking delegation as soon as the opportunity arises and conditions are met [2]. This trip and the messages issued on July 3, 2026, demonstrate Ankara's determination to strengthen strategic relations with Tehran, even in the most critical political and security conditions of the region [3][5].