How the Organization of Turkic States Shapes Iran’s Perceptions of Türkiye and Azerbaijan

In recent years, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has emerged as a significant regional framework through which Türkiye and Azerbaijan have deepened their bilateral cooperation and expanded their strategic influence across the Turkic world. For Iran, however, the OTS remains a source of persistent unease. Although Tehran’s relations with both Ankara and Baku are multilayered, ongoing frictions and lingering suspicions toward the organization –largely due to the central roles of Türkiye and Azerbaijan– continue to strain these ties. Despite the absence of a coherent policy toward the OTS, Iran perceives it as a potential constraint on its regional strategy in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Therefore, this chapter examines how the OTS shapes Iran’s perceptions of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, emphasizing both the geopolitical and domestic dimensions of Tehran’s response, as well as its efforts to contain the organization’s influence while preserving independent bilateral relations with each of these states.

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