Mahmut Arıkan: Iran and Russia Were Turkey's First Supporters During the July 15 Coup

On the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, Turkey's political landscape is once again witnessing a review of the events of that fateful night. Mahmut Arıkan, leader of the Saadet Partisi, shared thought-provoking remarks regarding Turkey's true supporters during the crisis in interviews with various media outlets, including Sözcü TV and Aydınlık newspaper [1][3].

Iran and Russia: The First Responders to the Crisis Citing historical documents and statements from officials of that time, Arıkan emphasized that unlike Western allies, it was regional neighbors who rushed to Turkey's aid in the initial moments. He noted that even Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey's Foreign Minister at the time, had previously confirmed that the first messages of official and decisive support were sent from Tehran and Moscow [1][2]. According to Arıkan, these two countries stood by Turkey's national sovereignty without delay, while many NATO member states remained silent until the final outcome of the coup became clear.

Criticism of Foreign Policy Contradictions and the NATO Summit Referring to the recent NATO summit held in Turkey (July 2026), the Saadet Party leader strongly criticized what he calls an "obvious contradiction" in the government's foreign policy. He stated: "It is very unfortunate that 10 years after that event, we see decisions being made against Iran and Russia—the very countries that stood by us on the night of the coup—at a summit held on Turkish soil" [4]. Arıkan added that providing massive military aid to Ukraine against Russia and taking harsh stances against Iran within the NATO framework indicates historical amnesia and diplomatic disloyalty [3].

Influence of Foreign Powers and Unlearned Lessons In another part of his speech, Arıkan pointed to the role of the United States in the events of July 15 and criticized symbols such as the display of the American flag on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. He believes the Turkish government has not yet been able to take a sufficiently authoritative stance against the main actors behind the scenes of the coup [1]. He warned that following NATO and US policies could push Turkey toward unwanted regional conflicts, especially against Iran, which is contrary to national interests and sustainable regional security [3][4].

The Need to Re-evaluate Strategic Alliances In conclusion, the leader of the Saadet Party emphasized that Turkey's security lies not under the NATO umbrella, but in sincere regional cooperation and strengthening ties with neighbors who passed the test during difficult days. He called on government officials to learn from history and not allow Turkey to become a tool for advancing imperialist goals in the Middle East [2][4].