Hassan Rouhani Praises Turkey's Strategic Role Amid 2026 Crisis

2026 Tensions and Rouhani's Decisive Response While the world watched the intense verbal confrontation between Donald Trump and Iranian officials with concern in early July 2026, former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised Ankara's approach in a statement widely reflected in Turkish media, including "Haber 61." Responding to Trump's threats to target Iranian civilization, Rouhani emphasized that the Iranian nation would stand against "rootless warmongering" [1]. In this context, he considered the role of neighbors like Turkey, who have not been influenced by unilateral pressures, to be vital.

Ankara's Key Role in Tehran-Washington Negotiations Rouhani's praise for Turkey is not limited to standing against sanctions. Recent reports indicate that Turkey, alongside Qatar and Pakistan, has played a pivotal role in mediating between Iran and the United States. In mid-June 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi officially thanked Ankara's efforts in advancing peace talks during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan [2]. Referring to this process, Rouhani described Turkish diplomacy as a bridge to cross the current crises.

NATO Summit in Ankara; A Test for Turkish Diplomacy These remarks come at a sensitive time as Ankara prepares to host the NATO Summit on July 7 and 8, 2026 [3]. Despite its NATO membership, Turkey has always sought to maintain balanced relations with its eastern neighbors. Rouhani noted in his speech that Turkey's stability means Iran's stability, and Ankara's resistance to Washington's aggressive policies is a model for regional cooperation. He emphasized that Iran and Turkey, as two major regional powers, can prevent the realization of warmongering scenarios.

Background of Strategic Relations; From Sanctions to New Cooperation Rouhani's positive view of Turkey is rooted in years of close cooperation. During his presidency, he had repeatedly praised Turkey's stance regarding US sanctions [4]. Now in 2026, with Trump's return to power and the repetition of past threats, Rouhani has once again emphasized the importance of the Tehran-Ankara alliance. He believes that the historical and cultural ties between the two countries have created a strong barrier against foreign interventions, which has become more important than ever in the current situation.