Populist Surge: Former President's Turkey Trip Sparks Regional Buzz and Domestic Fury

The enduring popularity of Ahmadinejad in certain regional segments, as evidenced by his Turkey trip, is often attributed by experts to his staunchly uncompromising and fiery anti-US and anti-Israel rhetoric. This posture, despite its diplomatic costs for Iran, resonates with some segments of the populace in the broader Middle East who view him as a figure standing up against what they perceive as Western and Zionist hegemony. Turkey, as a culturally and religiously significant neighbor, provides a fertile ground for this narrative to thrive.