Türkiye Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts to End US-Israel-Iran War, Says FM Hakan Fidan

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye is continuing its diplomatic contacts to help bring an end to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.

Speaking after an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Fidan emphasized that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the escalating regional conflict.

Referring to remarks by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Fidan said Ankara welcomed the statement that Iran would not launch attacks unless provoked. He noted that although there have been internal debates in Iran regarding the statement, it reflects an approach Türkiye has consistently encouraged.

Fidan also criticized what he described as Israel’s expansionist policies in the region, saying that Israel has adopted a strategy that fuels instability, conflict and civil wars. He added that Türkiye, together with its friendly and brotherly countries, is pursuing a peace-oriented policy in response to such developments.

Highlighting Türkiye’s role as a stabilizing actor, the foreign minister said the country has managed to maintain peace, security and stability despite regional turmoil, attributing this to the foreign policy pursued under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Fidan noted that members of the Organization of Turkic States continue to strengthen cooperation based on mutual trust, achieving concrete progress in areas such as economic integration, cultural exchange and regional connectivity. He said member states are also coordinating closely to develop a common stance on global developments.

Warning that the international system is becoming increasingly unpredictable and that international law is being violated more frequently, Fidan stressed that solidarity among Turkic states is becoming more important than ever.

He said OTS members had adopted a joint statement on recent regional developments and reiterated that any attack targeting one member state would be a matter of serious concern for all.

Fidan also thanked member countries for their solidarity and support following attacks targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

The Turkish foreign minister stressed that the war in the region must end as soon as possible. “We have spent months trying to establish a negotiation table. Even today we continue to say that diplomacy is the only option to resolve the problems,” he said.

He warned that ongoing conflicts could benefit terrorist groups and threaten global energy security, noting that Türkiye is closely monitoring the safety of its citizens and maintaining full diplomatic and consular support in affected areas.

Fidan strongly condemned attacks targeting third countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, saying such strikes risk expanding the conflict and endangering civilian lives.

He cautioned that using attacks on neighboring countries as a pressure tactic, unless directly attacked, is neither a sound military strategy nor beneficial for regional stability.

The foreign minister also referred to a missile incident in which a projectile entered Türkiye’s airspace before being shot down. While noting that such incidents may occur if missiles lose their course, he warned that repeated incidents could raise serious concerns.

“If there are going to be more, our advice is: Please be careful. No one in Iran should embark on such an adventure,” he said.

Fidan added that Türkiye continues to advocate dialogue between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear dispute, while encouraging policies that maintain regional stability.

He also welcomed steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward lasting peace, expressing hope that ongoing negotiations would soon result in a permanent peace agreement in the South Caucasus.

The minister said Ankara is also closely monitoring tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan and emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan remain crucial for the broader region.

Fidan further highlighted the need to strengthen regional energy security, connectivity and infrastructure investments, including efforts to expand the East-West Middle Corridor across the Caspian region.

Responding to claims that Kurdish groups could be used to destabilize Iran, Fidan said Türkiye’s intelligence and defense institutions are closely monitoring the situation. While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Washington was not pursuing such a strategy, Fidan said Israel’s intentions to use Kurdish groups as proxy forces in the region were widely known.

He warned that any attempt to provoke civil war in Iran along ethnic or sectarian lines would be extremely dangerous, potentially leading to widespread humanitarian suffering and large-scale refugee flows across neighboring countries.

Fidan stressed that Türkiye, which shares a 560-kilometer border with Iran, is working actively with regional actors to prevent further escalation and maintain stability.

“After Iraq and Syria, a prolonged period of uncertainty, war and instability in Iran would benefit no one,” he said. “Any internal crisis in such a large country would inevitably spread across the region. That is why we are seeking ways to prevent such a scenario and keep the situation under control.”