Cevdet Yılmaz’s Visit to Tehran; Emphasis on Regional Peace and Strategic Cooperation

Meeting at Sa'dabad Palace and Expression of Sympathy Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz arrived in Tehran on Friday, July 3, 2026, leading a high-ranking delegation. He was welcomed at Mehrabad Airport by Hossein Simaei Sarraf, Iran's Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, and Hicabi Kırlangıç, Turkey's Ambassador to Tehran [1]. Yılmaz immediately headed to Sa'dabad Palace to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The visit was aimed at participating in the official funeral and commemoration ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former leader of Iran, who passed away during attacks in late February [4].

During the meeting, Yılmaz conveyed the condolences of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emphasizing that Ankara stands by the brotherly and friendly nation of Iran during this difficult time. In a message on the social network "NSosyal," he wrote: "We sincerely share the grief of the Iranian people and will work to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood" [1][5].

Efforts for Lasting Peace and Normalization of Relations One of the main focuses of the talks between Yılmaz and Pezeshkian was recent regional developments and the peace process between Iran and the United States. Referring to the "Islamabad Memorandum" achieved through the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan, Yılmaz emphasized Turkey's support for turning this agreement into a permanent peace [3]. He stated that Turkey, as a regional power, will use all diplomatic channels to strengthen dialogue and support the post-war normalization process [1].

In a press statement, the Turkish Vice President said: "We do not want war in our region; rather, we seek stability. Turkey believes that the security and prosperity of all regional societies can only be achieved under the shadow of lasting peace" [3]. He also stressed the need for vigilance against provocations that might disrupt the peace process.

Economic Goals and Energy Cooperation In another part of the meeting, both sides emphasized the necessity of upgrading the level of economic cooperation. Yılmaz noted that the $30 billion target for bilateral trade volume remains a priority on Ankara's agenda [4]. He added that with the reduction of sanctions and improvement of political conditions, the dormant potential in the trade relations between the two countries must be fully activated.

Cooperation in the energy sector, particularly the renewal of natural gas export contracts from Iran to Turkey and investment in transportation infrastructure, were other key topics [4]. Yılmaz emphasized that energy security is one of the main pillars of the strategic partnership between Tehran and Ankara, and both countries must coordinate more to face global economic challenges.

Border Security and Defense Cooperation On the sidelines of this trip, defense and security officials accompanying Yılmaz also met with their Iranian counterparts. These talks emphasized strengthening border cooperation and the fight against terrorist groups [2]. At the end of his meetings, Yılmaz noted that if conditions are met, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also make an official visit to Iran in the near future to open a new chapter in the strategic relations between the two countries [4].