Turkey to consider invading Iranian territory in the event of a power vacuum

Turkey is actively preparing contingency plans that include the possibility of invading parts of Iranian territory if a power vacuum emerges in Tehran. The primary objective of such a move would be to prevent large numbers of refugees from crossing into Turkey, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This dramatic option comes as NATO has significantly increased its aerial surveillance of Iran from bases in Turkey. AWACS radar planes operating out of Konya are now flying more frequently over Iranian border areas than they are monitoring Russia, reflecting growing concerns over a potential US-led military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Ankara fears that any major conflict or collapse of the Iranian regime could trigger a new wave of refugees, primarily Afghan and Pakistani nationals currently living in Iran. Turkey already hosts nearly 3 million Syrian refugees and is worried that additional arrivals would place an unbearable strain on its struggling economy.

As the United States positions two aircraft carriers and fighter jets in the Middle East, with President Trump openly considering limited strikes while pushing for a nuclear deal by early March, Turkish officials are updating their response strategies. These range from setting up border camps to the more aggressive step of crossing into Iran to stop refugee flows at the source, but only in the case of a complete power vacuum.