Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a change in Iran’s leadership could create a rare opening to halt the conflict, as he warned against Tehran’s “self-destructive” approach to bomb Gulf neighbors.

Fidan said the Middle East is experiencing one of its most volatile moments in decades, but noted that the political transition in Iran could produce a diplomatic window the region has not had since the fighting began. “A new leadership structure may reshape Iran’s decision-making and create an opportunity to stop the war,” he told a live broadcast on TRT Haber news channel.

Fidan said the political transition now underway in Iran could create a narrow but meaningful opening to stop the conflict. “The new leadership in Iran may show greater flexibility at this stage,” he said, noting that decision-making is currently in the hands of a temporary three-member council until a permanent leader is chosen. “This could be a window of opportunity, if used wisely.”

He stressed that any diplomatic framework must balance concerns on both sides. “It must be a formula that does not humiliate the Iranians, while also addressing the legitimate worries of others,” he said. Otherwise, he warned, prolonging the war would carry “far worse consequences than any concession that might be made.”

“Iran’s indiscriminate bombing of all these Gulf countries is an unbelievably wrong strategy,” Fidan said.

Fidan said many Gulf states had worked intensely to prevent the outbreak of the war, stressing that he personally witnessed their efforts. He noted that Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister were still trying to stop the escalation “until an hour before the attack,” acting in ways that were effectively in Iran’s interest at the time. Despite this, Fidan said Tehran launched widespread strikes without distinction, targeting Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. “Iran’s indiscriminate bombing of all these countries was an unbelievably wrong strategy,” he said, arguing that it heightened regional risks and was also counterproductive from Iran’s own perspective.

He added that several of these states had not allowed their airspace or bases to be used against Iran, had declared neutrality in advance and even worked to stop the war. Attacking such countries, he said, revealed how serious Iran’s threat perception had become. “It reflects a mindset of ‘if I go down, the region goes down with me,’” he said.

The top Turkish diplomat said the region is witnessing one of its most critical periods in decades, noting that the latest conflict involving Iran has intensified a cycle of instability that has already scarred the Middle East for the past 20 years.

Fidan said the course and duration of the conflict will depend largely on the goals of the actors involved. He noted two distinct objectives shaping the current military campaign: one focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities, and another aimed at bringing about regime change.

“These are two very different concepts,” he said. “The length of the war, how it expands and the risks it creates will vary depending on which objective is pursued.”

He added that Türkiye has already begun coordinating with several countries to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. “Our priority is to form a common understanding with key partners and take steps that can stop the conflict from spiraling into something worse,” he said.

Fidan described a tense period in January, saying that the region came extremely close to a major war. One pivotal moment, he noted, was a phone call on Jan. 27 between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump, which he called “historic.” At the time, Washington was close to deciding on a military strike. Fidan said U.S. officials contacted him directly during those days, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

On Jan. 30, Türkiye hosted Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, in Istanbul. Fidan said intense Turkish diplomacy produced a format for renewed talks. Washington had been pushing to resolve four issues simultaneously, while Iran rejected the approach. Türkiye proposed splitting the agenda: two issues would be discussed directly between Washington and Tehran, and two would be addressed by regional countries.

“When we explained the structure to the Americans, they immediately accepted,” he said. The Iranians asked for time to consult their leadership and eventually agreed to return to the earlier negotiation format.

Fidan said this effort effectively paused the immediate threat of war.

“A conflict that could have erupted within one or two days was temporarily halted,” he said. He publicly stated at the time that there was no war “as of now,” a comment he recalls making around Feb. 8 or 9. Talks continued in Umman on Feb. 6 and in Geneva on Feb. 26. But friction persisted, and the war eventually broke out on Feb. 28.

The foreign minister said the negotiation process should have ended formally if the United States decided the talks were no longer useful. “There should have been an official statement saying, ‘I am leaving the talks because they did not produce the result I expected,’” he said, arguing that such a declaration was necessary for diplomatic protocol.

Fidan said he met with all sides – Iran, the mediator and the United States – after the last Geneva meeting and realized the process was deteriorating. There was a gap, he said, between the pace Iran wanted and the urgency Washington felt, which was further intensified by Israeli pressure. Still, he believes a positive outcome on the nuclear issue was within reach.

“If the process had continued a little longer, a result could have been achieved,” he said, while acknowledging that both sides were demanding concessions that would have required time.

He added that Iran misread the pressure Trump was under. “If the Iranians had recognized the decision pressure Trump faced and put something on the table earlier, Israel’s pressure might not have been as effective,” he said. Instead, events unfolded differently, and the war began on Feb. 28.

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Türkiye’s Communications Directorate denied Wednesday the claims circulating on social media that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would become a legitimate target for Türkiye if it attacked Iran.

The Directorate’s Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) said in a statement posted on its official social media accounts that the allegations were false and not based on any official statement by Turkish authorities.

“There has been no statement or assessment by the official institutions of the Republic of Türkiye suggesting such a position,” the statement noted.

The center added that Türkiye’s policy focuses on reducing regional tensions and promoting stability through diplomacy and dialogue rather than escalation.

The statement underlined, “Türkiye advocates a stance that prioritizes the preservation of peace and stability on the basis of diplomacy, dialogue and international law.”

Officials also urged the public to rely only on information released by official institutions when evaluating such claims.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated several times that preserving stability in Iran and across the wider region is critical, emphasizing that Türkiye is working intensively to ensure calm and helping reestablish a diplomatic track.

Ankara has engaged in intensive diplomacy over the past four days following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

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A ballistic projectile fired from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.

In a written statement, the ministry said the ballistic munition was detected after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was engaged in time before posing a direct threat to Turkish territory.

Debris found in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province was identified as belonging to air defense munitions used during the interception, the ministry said. Officials added that no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

“A ballistic munition fired from Iran and detected heading toward Turkish airspace after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace was engaged and neutralized in time by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the statement said.

Moreover, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran published a statement posted on social media noting relevant institutions were monitoring the situation in real time and operating in full coordination.

“Our determination and capacity to ensure the security of our country and our nation are at the highest level,” Duran said, adding that Türkiye would take all necessary measures to defend its territory and airspace.

Duran said Ankara would respond to any hostile acts within the framework of international law and would continue consultations and cooperation with NATO and allied countries.

He also urged media outlets and social media users to act responsibly and avoid sharing unverified information that could cause public panic.

Türkiye continues to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting stability in the region, Duran said.

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Turkish authorities have detained 184 suspects, arresting 22 in nationwide operations targeting the Daesh terrorist group, the Interior Ministry announced Wednesday.

According to a statement shared on the ministry’s social media accounts, the arrests were carried out during coordinated operations conducted over the past two weeks across 35 provinces including Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Eskişehir.

The suspects were identified as individuals who previously operated within Daesh, were wanted on various charges, or were found to have provided financial support to the group.

The operations were coordinated by the Interior Ministry along with the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the General Directorate of Security’s Intelligence Department, the Counterterrorism Department and local chief public prosecutors’ offices.

Authorities said 22 of the suspects have been formally arrested by courts, while judicial control measures were imposed on 33 others.

Legal procedures for the remaining detainees are ongoing.

During the raids, security forces also seized eight unlicensed handguns, one shotgun and numerous digital materials and documents linked to the terrorist group.

Officials said counterterrorism operations targeting Daesh networks and financing structures will continue across the country.

The statement also praised the efforts of the relevant departments, the MIT, public prosecutors’ offices and police officers involved in the operations.

Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace, as the group faces nationwide raids, and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013

On Dec. 29, 2025, three police officers were killed as they raided a house in Yalova in northwestern Türkiye, where Daesh members were hiding. Six Daesh members were killed in the shootout.

The indictment on the incident says six men killed in the shootout were linked to other Daesh suspects who plotted to kill Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Yalova official Umut Güçlü. Security forces have arrested 66 people in operations against Daesh after the deadly shootout. The indictment says four among six killed Daesh terrorists were siblings and they also planned to kill their father, whom they declared an “infidel.”

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The head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries visited exhibition and experience areas set up at the Presidential Complex in Ankara as part of Ramadan-themed public events highlighting the country’s technological achievements.

Haluk Görgün toured the displays during the “Ramadan at the Presidential Complex” program, where he met with children and young visitors and emphasized Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative, according to a statement from the Presidency of Defense Industries.

Görgün said this year’s events were organized with a broader program combining the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan with culture, arts, science and technology. He also expressed satisfaction with the strong interest shown by families and young people attending the activities.

He said the exhibition areas allow visitors, particularly students, to observe the achievements of Türkiye’s defense industry and learn about national technological projects.

“Young people are introduced to the National Technology Initiative and the National Space Program in areas prepared with the contributions of institutions such as ASELSAN and TUSAŞ,” Görgün said. “Through simulator experiences, our children can feel technology more closely. Their curiosity turns into knowledge and their excitement into goals.”

The event features interactive activities, including the KAAN fighter jet simulator, helicopter flight simulators, a museum on the history of scientific inventions, wooden rocket-building workshops, and exhibitions on directed energy systems.

Officials said the events will remain open to visitors throughout the month of Ramadan.

The Turkish defense industry, widely recognized worldwide, conducted studies to address new needs emerging on the battlefield and in future combat environments, while also enhancing the capabilities of existing products throughout 2025.

KAAN is a fifth-generation warplane that Türkiye has worked on for almost a decade. The jet was first publicly unveiled in 2023 before it performed its maiden test flight in early 2024. Its serial production is expected to begin in 2028.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed that escalating regional conflicts underscore the urgent need for meaningful diplomacy, telling NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that lasting peace will depend on giving dialogue real space to work.

In a statement, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Erdoğan stressed that Ankara is closely monitoring the growing instability across the region and believes diplomacy must be prioritized to prevent further escalation.

The discussions come as Türkiye emphasizes the need for dialogue in the face of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which have escalated regional tensions.

He also highlighted preparations for the upcoming NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, saying Türkiye is ready to host the gathering and expects productive outcomes at a time when the alliance faces mounting security challenges.

Rutte said NATO will continue working to ensure the security of all member states through a 360-degree approach, according to the statement.

The conversation comes as multiple crises strain Euro-Atlantic security, prompting calls within the alliance for stronger coordination and a renewed focus on diplomatic solutions.

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