Presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Ankara to reinforce relations with Turkey immediately after the 2007 NIE report was released. Relations were briefly strained after President Abdullah Gul had stated that he wants the atomic threat to be eliminated from the region, perhaps a hint to Iran; however, business has remained cordial between the two countries. Despite US disapproval, they signed a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline deal in late 2007. Iran's relations with the Arab states have been complex, partly due to the Islamic Revolution of decades ago, as well as more recent efforts by the United States to establish a united front against Iran over
2007 Turkish presidential election as the favorite, a controversy started after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan's last speech. Erdoğan said "The people who say that (Gül is not my president), must renounce their citizenship" on television in reply to an article of Bekir Coşkun, a columnist known for his opposition to the ruling AKP. Many people find this anti-democratic. After completion of the second round, Abdullah Gül was elected. The results are: Summary of the August 2007 Turkish presidential election candidates ! style="text-align:left; background:#e9e9e9; vertical-align:top;" colspan="2"|Candidates ! style="text-align:left; background:#e9e9e9; vertical-align:top;"|Party ! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|1st round(20 August) ! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|2nd round(24 August) ! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|3rd round(28 August)