As tensions escalate across the Middle East, a Turkish organization with a long record of controversy is once again positioning itself at the center of a conflict zone—this time, in Iran.

The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH), a government-backed NGO closely aligned with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has announced plans to deliver “humanitarian aid” to Iranian civilians affected by the ongoing war. On the surface, the initiative appears consistent with the group’s past operations in Gaza, Syria, and Yemen. Yet its timing—and its history—raise urgent and troubling questions.

For years, İHH has faced allegations from intelligence agencies and judicial investigations linking it to extremist networks, including entities affiliated with Al Qaeda. Reports submitted to the United Nations Security Council in 2016 cited evidence that the organization was involved in transferring weapons and logistical support to militant groups in Syria, including the Nusra Front.

Turkish investigations between 2011 and 2014 further deepened these concerns. Confidential probes into the activities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—particularly its Quds Force—identified links between İHH figures and Iranian-backed networks such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad.........

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