The relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey are complex and characterized by both tension and cooperation. Both countries fight for influence in the Middle East through supporting opposing proxies as part of the Iran-Turkey proxy conflict. The two countries are also major trade partners and are perceived as mutually interdependent due to geographical proximity as well as shared cultural, linguistic, and ethnic traits. For example, the Kurds, a Iranic ethnic group, are the second-largest ethnicity in Turkey.