Retired Turkish officer calls for Iranian recognition of Turkish-occupied Cyprus

On August 25, 2026, retired Turkish naval officer and academic Celalettin Yavuz gave an interview to the Iranian news agency Mehr, in which he discussed regional power dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean. Yavuz, who frequently referred to the Republic of Cyprus as “Southern Cyprus,” characterized the country alongside Greece and Israel as part of a strategic alignment competing against Turkey. During the discussion, he explicitly urged the Iranian government to grant official recognition to the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Furthermore, Yavuz criticized European nations and the United States for their perceived bias in favor of Greece and Cyprus. He linked this alleged bias to various sanctions imposed on Ankara, suggesting that Western powers are concerned about the possibility of an militarily robust Turkey pivoting its alliances toward Russia or China. The interview highlights the ongoing efforts by certain Turkish circles to seek international diplomatic support for the breakaway state amid heightened tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region.