Abdullah Bozkurt
Business, trade and investment ties between Turkey and
Iran, two competing powers in the region with a combined
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.14 trillion1, have been
thwarted for decades from unleashing their full potential mainly
by the protectionist policies pursued by the Tehran regime for
various reasons.
For one, Iran is keen to safeguard its relatively uncompetitive
industry against Turkish manufacturing and industrial products,
preserve the hold of Mullahs and of the military on its economy.
The ideological hostility toward Turkey, a predominantly Sunni
nation, coupled with the long-running historical rivalry in the
region, has also played a significant role in impeding the further
development of the economic ties.
