Closing the PKK-SDG parenthesis: Concerns rise over Iran

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, TURKIYE — While pro-government media celebrates the apparent dissolution of the PKK/SDG structure in Syria as a historic victory, analysts warn that this shift may be the precursor to a much more volatile "Iran parenthesis" in the Middle East.

Journalist Müyesser Yıldız highlights that the recent rapid transformation in Syria, characterized by the US "abandoning" the SDG, aligns with a broader strategic design targeting Tehran. Despite the celebratory tone in Ankara regarding the defeat of the SDG and its US CENTCOM backers, the regional reality remains complex. Israel’s increasing footprint in the region and the tactical cooperation between the Shara administration and Washington suggest that the ultimate objective of this new alignment is the containment and potential targeting of Iran.

The Shara administration and US-Israel alignment

The recent diplomatic traffic, specifically the meeting between Donald Trump and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara on November 10, indicates a significant shift in regional alliances. During these talks, which included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the parties discussed not only the Gaza and Ukraine files but also the future of Iran's nuclear program. US envoy Tom Barrack explicitly stated that the new Damascus administration would play an active role alongside the US against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, and Hezbollah. This suggests that the "New Syria" is being positioned as a buffer against Iranian influence rather than just a victory for Turkish regional interests.

Turkiye’s mediation and the "Iran traffic"

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been observed conducting intense shuttle diplomacy between US officials and Tehran. Following his meetings with Tom Barrack, Fidan held consecutive calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Analysts compare this mediation effort to previous Turkish attempts to deliver messages to Saddam Hussein and Bashar al-Assad before major conflicts. However, with Trump’s rhetoric escalating—including recent statements promising "help" to Iranian protesters and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—the window for a diplomatic resolution appears to be narrowing.

The status of Incirlik and Kurecik bases

As the threat of an operation against Iran grows, the domestic debate in Turkiye regarding US and NATO military installations has reached a fever pitch. While the ruling coalition emphasizes Turkiye’s "imperial era" return, opposition leaders from the Saadet and Yeniden Refah parties are demanding the immediate closure of the Kurecik Radar Station and the assertion of full sovereignty over Incirlik Air Base. They argue that these facilities provide vital intelligence for Israel and the US, which could be used in a potential strike against a neighboring country. Despite these calls, the MHP leadership, while supporting Iran’s territorial integrity, has remained silent on the specific status of these bases.

Conclusion: A precarious "Imperial" vision

The current optimism in Turkish media regarding the collapse of the "SDG parenthesis" may be premature if it leads directly into a regional war involving Iran. As global designs shift, Turkiye finds itself in a precarious position—balancing its partnership with the Trump administration against the risks of a neighboring state’s collapse. Whether Ankara can maintain its "imperial" stance while being squeezed between US tax threats, energy demands, and regional escalations remains the most critical question of 2026.

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