A diplomatic falling out between Turkey and Iran escalated on Tuesday as Ankara summoned a senior Iranian diplomat – the latest development in a war of words between officials from the neighbouring countries.

Iran and Turkey have summoned each other’s diplomats for discussions, officials said Tuesday, after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Tehran’s policy of supporting militias in Syria and elsewhere.

FILE - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on Feb. 24, 2025. Fidan's recent criticism of Iranian support for militias in the Middle East triggered diplomatic discussions with the countries' ambassadors.

Iran summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Tehran on Monday following “baseless and provocative” remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, announced that the chargé d'affaires of the Iranian embassy in Ankara has been summoned to the Turkish ministry.

Turkey summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires following Iran's public criticism of Turkish policies. Iran had earlier summoned Turkey's ambassador after Turkey warned Tehran against destabilizing Syria. Turkey emphasized that foreign policy should not be manipulated for domestic political gain.

Iran's foreign ministry summoned Türkiye's ambassador, state TV reported on Tuesday, after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Tehran against undermining Syria's stability. The Iranian foreign ministry published a statement saying that a meeting took place on Monday between ambassador Hicabi Kırlangıç and Mahmoud Heydari,