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Source: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC06.php?CID=1821
Turkey vs. Iran
(New York Times) Soner Cagaptay - Hardly a day goes by that an Iranian official doesn't threaten Turkey. Turkish-Iranian rivalry goes back centuries, to the Ottoman sultans and the Safavid shahs, and Ankara is the main challenger to Tehran's desire to dominate the region today. The uprising in Syria put Ankara and Tehran at opposite ends of the spectrum. It is a zero-sum game: Either Assad will win or the demonstrators will triumph. Hence, all is fair game now between Ankara and Tehran. Turkey is now supporting, hosting, and reportedly arming the Syrian opposition. Iran's response has been to strike at Turkey by once again supporting the PKK, which has launched dozens of deadly attacks, killing more than 150 Turks since the summer of 2011. The writer is director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.