Iran's territorial integrity and maintaining its status as a single state are very important to regional stability, said a Turkish scholar of international relations on Tuesday.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Tuesday, Filiz Katman, an assistant professor of political science and international relations at Istanbul Aydin University, said Türkiye is closely monitoring regional developments to protect its security.
"Iran's territorial integrity and maintaining its status as a single state are very important. Just as in the case of Syria, and just as in the case of Iraq, the fragmentation of regional countries means an increase in risk for Türkiye's security. Let's remember that Iran is also a very key country for migration from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There's a different situation there. Since it could also accelerate migration from these areas, Türkiye is maintaining a high level of vigilance and monitoring developments in the region very closely," said Katman.
Iran's territorial integrity crucial to regional stability: Turkish scholar
