What role will Turkey play in the Iran conflict?
Americano
The Spectator
4.0 • 762 Ratings
🗓️ 4 March 2026
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today NATO forces intercepted an Iranian missile headed for Turkey. Whilst it remains unclear where that missile was intended to land, questions have emerged over whether President Erdogan can continue his strategy of geopolitical pragmatism. So far the Turkish leader has managed to appeal to China, Russia, Europe and the US. But will he be forced to pick a side? Freddy Gray discusses this with Spectator writer Owen Matthews and the recent reemergence of Kurdish forces being funded by Israel and the US to attack the Iranian regime.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On Tuesday the 24th of March, our speakers will debate the motion, |
| 0:04.0 | this House believes we should abolish the licence fee. |
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| 0:13.4 | and former BBC America editor John Sopel opposing. |
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| 0:22.2 | Join us on Tuesday the 24th of March at 7pm and book your tickets at spectator.com |
| 0:27.7 | forward slash debate. |
| 0:36.3 | Hello and welcome back to the Americana Show. My name is Freddie Gray. I am the deputy editor of the |
| 0:41.9 | spectator and the US editor. And I'm pleased to tell you that this is the 10th year of the |
| 0:48.3 | Americano podcast. And I think it's fair to say it's been a fairly fascinating time in American politics, life and culture. |
| 0:58.1 | And that's what we talk about every episode on this podcast. |
| 1:02.1 | So please keep listening and provide as much feedback as you like. |
| 1:06.9 | Today I am delighted to be joined by Owen Matthews, who is our Russia correspondent, but also a bit of an expert on Turkey. |
| 1:15.6 | And we're going to be talking about whether Turkey is going to get involved in this conflict. |
| 1:24.8 | Because, well, in recent minutes it's emerged that Turkey has said it has intercepted a |
| 1:31.6 | missile that came into its airspace, and the foreign ministry of Turkey has conveyed its protest, |
| 1:41.3 | according to local reports, to Tehran about this incursion. |
| 1:47.5 | Owen, what do you make of the latest news, first of all? |
| 1:50.8 | Because as you've recently written for the spectator this morning, in fact, |
| 1:58.0 | Turkey and Iran have quite a good relationship, do they not? |
| 2:04.8 | Yeah, that's true. |
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