Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan made striking statements regarding the Israel-USA and Iran war. Emphasizing that we are going through critical days, Fidan said that the effects of the Iran-centered war have gone beyond the borders.

“THE WAR IS NOT LIMITED TO IRAN”

Minister Fidan said, “On behalf of our region, especially. There have been great sufferings and wars in the region for the last 20 years, and the last great war we have experienced is the war with Iran. Of course, when we look at the effects of the war, it is not limited to Iran. As we predicted long ago, it spreads to the entire region.”

“I WILL TAKE THE REGION WITH ME”

Stating that Iran has created a new strategy, Minister Fidan said, “As soon as Iran considers a final attack against itself, it attacks other countries in the region, especially their energy infrastructures, with the strategy of ‘If I leave, I will take the region with me’. Iran is well aware of this; it knows how important the energy infrastructures in the critical countries in the region are for the world economy, stability and energy security. It carries out its attacks against these places. As it is attacked, it tries to create the pressure element from here.”

“A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE”

Stating that no time can be given for the war, Minister Fidan said, “The issue of what will happen is a controversial issue, open to various evaluations. The important thing here is; what are the aims of the attacking parties? What do they aim for? When you look at it, two main sets of goals emerge. In the first set, there is a military professional evaluation about the elimination of the military capabilities that Iran has. There is the view that ‘We will continue this operation until we achieve this goal.’ On the other hand, there is a perspective of a military operation that aims for a regime change.” He made a statement.

“DURATION OF THE WAR VARIES”

Minister Fidan continued as follows: “Now, depending on these two targets, the duration of the war changes and its form also changes. The way it spreads and the risks it creates also change; these two are very different concepts. Therefore, we are already working on how we can prevent it from getting worse by coming together with certain countries and forming a certain opinion.”

İsmail Köse, faculty member of the International Relations Department of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Karadeniz Technical University, stated that every war in the Middle East directly affects Türkiye and drew attention to the risk of migration waves, increasing energy costs and economic instability. Köse said, “It may be possible to stay out of the war, but it is impossible to get rid of its effects completely.”

Arguing that there is a period in which norms are weakened in the international system, Köse claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump acted without taking international law and norms into account and said, “It becomes difficult to talk about international law and peace in an environment where force is justified.” Referring to the social structure in Iran, Köse stated that there has been an uneasy public opinion in the country for a long time and that the current war environment could further shake the internal balances. Emphasizing that the Revolutionary Guards in particular will play a decisive role in the process, Köse stated that it is unclear what attitude the structure, which controlled the centers of power in the past during the periods of Ruhollah Khomeini, Ali Khamenei and Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, will display in the face of the current crisis. Köse stated that although regime change is not expected in the short term in Iran, the process may spread over time, as in the case of Syria, and that it is difficult for an administration that has lost public support to survive in the long term.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek attended the iftar program organized by Istanbul Bar Association No. 2. Speaking in the program, Minister Gürlek announced new good news for lawyers. Minister Gürlek stated that they started working on various legal regulations in line with the request of the Istanbul No. 2 Bar Association, which came to visit him. Minister Gürlek noted that they determined the basic targets for strengthening the defense in the Judicial Reform Strategy Document.

“Hopefully, IN THE 12TH JUDICIAL PACKAGE, WE WILL INTRODUCE LAWYER RESPONSIBILITY IN DEED REGISTRY FOR TRANSACTIONS EXCEEDING A CERTAIN AMOUNT”

Minister of Justice Gürlek said, “Some of these goals are to impose the obligation to be represented by a lawyer in some works and transactions. We have given instructions in the 12th Judicial Package and now the legal regulation will be made. Of course, if our Parliament shows the same will, we want to impose the obligation to represent with a lawyer in transactions exceeding a certain amount in the land registry. This is important for both the transactions to achieve legal security and to provide at least a small benefit to our lawyers. I have instructed our General Directorate of Legal Affairs and our Private Secretary on this matter. Hopefully, a certain amount will be made in the 12th Judicial Package. “We will bring lawyer responsibility in the title deed in the transactions.”

“THE TRIAL HAS A TRIPLE STRUCTURE CONSIST OF PROSECUTOR, LAWYER AND JUDGE”

In his speech, Minister Gürlek expressed his condolences to Teacher Fatma Nur Çelik, who lost her life in a heinous attack in Çekmeköy, and her grieving family, and stated that he was following the process closely. Emphasizing that the foundation of property is justice and the backbone of defense is lawyers, Minister Gürlek stated that lawyers are the guarantee of the right to a fair trial and said, “The trial has a tripartite structure consisting of prosecutor, lawyer and judge. However, if all three come together, the trial activity begins. These three elements are equally valuable. The guarantee of judicial independence is independent lawyers. It is clearly written in our laws that lawyers are the founding element of the judiciary.”

“IN THE LAST 24 YEARS, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED REFORM REGULATIONS THAT DIRECTLY CONCERN OUR LAWYERS”

Thanking lawyers for their successful contributions to alternative solutions such as conciliation and mediation, Minister Gürlek also listed the regulations made for lawyers in the last 24 years as follows: “In the last 24 years, we have carried out many studies that directly concern our lawyers. We have implemented important legal regulations. We have qualified the profession by introducing the Legal Professions Entrance Exam. In the same sense, this exam also serves as a filter. We abolished the secondary education in law faculties. We abolished the vertical transfer system. The order of success for admission to faculties is prioritized first.” “We ensured that the faculty of law has a qualified and quantitative level by increasing the number to 125 thousand, and then to 100 thousand. We made the necessary legal arrangements for the decisions of the regional court of justice in crimes arising from the duties of lawyers to go to the Supreme Court in any case. We implemented the e-hearing application for our lawyers. Our lawyers can easily participate in hearings from their offices or anywhere else.”

“THESE ARE REGULATIONS THAT ANSWER THE REQUESTS THAT OUR LAWYERS HAVE MENTIONED FOR YEARS”

Minister Gürlek stated that among the regulations made in the last 24 years, there are regulations such as expanding the UYAP integration and reducing the VAT rate on legal services, and said, “We ensured that lawyers who are new to the profession are not deducted from the deduction taken by the bar association for 5 years. We provided financial support, especially to our colleagues who have just started, as expenses for establishing an office. We have made the necessary negotiations with the relevant banks on this issue. They are currently benefiting from financial support. We have provided mediation opportunity to lawyers with 20 years of seniority. We have provided mediation opportunities to conciliators.” “We only required one to be a law school graduate in order to become a mediator. All these regulations were important regulations that strengthen the defense and respond to the demands that our lawyers have expressed for years.” he said. Minister Gürlek said, “Our lawyers are the guarantor of the freedom to seek justice and the indispensable founding element of our justice system. Where the defense is strong, justice becomes more rooted and social trust increases.” he said.

In the statement made on DMM’s NSosyal account regarding the allegations, it was stated that Türkiye is an independent and sovereign state and the following was noted:

“Allegations on some social media accounts such as “Trump instructed Türkiye to attack Iran, Turkey is part of a secret military plan against Iran, Turkey requested the lifting of CAATSA sanctions to join the war against Iran” are not true.

Türkiye as an independent and sovereign state; It determines and implements its foreign policy and security decisions solely by itself. Statements to the contrary are completely unfounded and malicious. There is no such thing as Türkiye going to war against Iran and offering any conditions for this purpose, including the removal of CAATSA sanctions.

“We are kindly requested not to rely on such content intended to manipulate public opinion.”

Claims on some social media accounts such as “Trump instructed Türkiye to attack Iran, Turkey is part of a secret military plan against Iran, Turkey requested the lifting of CAATSA sanctions to join the war against Iran” are not true. Türkiye… pic.twitter.com/uSgbi9Xt9n

— Center for Combating Disinformation (@dmmiletisim) March 3, 2026

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, who was arrested within the scope of the ‘Extortion by force’ investigation, was suspended from duty.

In the written statement made by the Ministry, “Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan was suspended from office by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a temporary measure in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipality Law No. 5393, upon his arrest with the decision of the Bolu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace dated 02.03.2026 and Query number 2026/48, within the scope of the investigation carried out against him for the crime of ‘Extortion by force’.” It was said.

TANJU ÖZCAN AND HIS HELPERS WERE ARRESTED

Mayor Tanju Özcan and Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, who were detained in the “extortion” operation against Bolu Municipality, were arrested by the court to which they were referred. Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the procedures of the 13 suspects who were detained by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams were completed. The suspects, who were brought to the courthouse accompanied by security measures, were taken into the courthouse through the back entrance door. Özcan and Deputy Süleyman Can, two of the suspects whose statements at the prosecutor’s office were completed, were arrested by the court to which they were referred and sent to prison. Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, an “extortion” operation was carried out against Bolu Municipality on February 28, and Özcan and Deputy Mayor Can, Financial Services Manager NA, BolSev Foundation Chairman AS, municipal council members HES, B.Ö. and CG, former Police Chief HY, former Human Resources Manager and current Fire Chief MA, former Registrar TA, former municipal council member and Bolu Bel AŞ Chairman ET, Zoning Director SP and zoning directorate staff YB were detained. Except for Tanju Özcan and Süleyman Can, the other names were released with a judicial control decision.

OYAK Chairman Zekai Aksakallı, OYAK General Manager Murat Yalçıntaş and his accompanying delegation visited Anıtkabir on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of OYAK, the retirement fund of the Turkish Armed Forces personnel.

The ceremony started with a delegation consisting of members of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, the Auditing Board and the staff of the institution, walking on the Lion Road. OYAK Chairman of the Board of Directors Zekai Aksakallı left the wreath consisting of red and white carnations to the mausoleum of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

After laying a wreath, a moment of silence was observed. After the moment of silence, the delegation went to the National Pact Tower and took a souvenir photo on the steps of Anıtkabir.

IN THE PRESENCE OF ATATURK ON THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION

OYAK Chairman of the Board of Directors Zekai Aksakallı wrote the following in the Anıtkabir Special Book:

“Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founder of our Republic, we are proud to be in your presence on the 65th anniversary of the Army Relief Organization, which was established and maintained by the hard work of the devoted and devoted members of our army who ensured the survival of our country at the expense of their blood and lives at home and abroad.