Türkiye and the European Union held a high-level virtual meeting to discuss the escalating conflict involving Iran and rising tensions across the Middle East, bringing together senior officials from both sides to exchange assessments and coordinate diplomatic efforts.

The session brought together Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with representatives from other regional countries.

In a statement shared on his NSosyal account after the meeting, Yılmaz said the talks focused on assessing the humanitarian and geopolitical impacts of the conflict, which carries a significant risk of spilling over across the region.

Yılmaz said Türkiye’s main objective remains the swift end of hostilities to protect regional stability, peace and global economic prosperity.

“We condemn attacks targeting third countries as well, and we continue our diplomatic efforts multilaterally to bring the conflicts to an end,” Yılmaz said.

U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials.

Iran retaliated with barrages targeting U.S. bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel in the region.

A total of eight U.S. service members have been killed amid the ongoing conflict.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that Israel and the United States are attempting to create tensions between Iran and its neighboring countries, including Türkiye, according to Iranian statements.

During his conversation with Erdoğan, Pezeshkian said Israel and the United States are seeking to provoke disagreements between Iran and neighboring states while spreading claims through media outlets aligned with them.

He said these media outlets have circulated allegations that Iran carried out a missile strike against Türkiye, describing the reports as part of efforts to fuel mistrust and instability in the region.

The remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns about the conflict expanding to involve additional countries.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş will attend the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at U.N. headquarters in New York on Monday.

According to a ministry statement, it is the highest-attended U.N. event after the General Assembly. It will bring together representatives of member states from across the globe.

The session’s priority theme focuses on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, promoting inclusive legal systems, and eliminating discriminatory laws and structural barriers. The review theme will examine the full participation of women in public life and decision-making to eliminate violence.

Göktaş is scheduled to deliver Türkiye’s National Statement during the opening general discussion on Monday.

On Tuesday, she will participate in a roundtable at U.N. headquarters to share Türkiye’s best practices regarding women’s access to justice. She will also speak at a side event hosted by the ministry titled, “The Future of Justice: Technological Approaches Strengthening Women’s Access to Justice.”

Organized in cooperation with Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Egypt, and the U.N. Women and Women and Democracy Association (KADEM), the event will highlight Türkiye’s digital infrastructure in combating violence against women. This includes digital applications developed under Law No. 6284, early warning systems and electronic monitoring tools.

As part of the program, the ministry will partner with the e-commerce platform Hepsiburada to open an exhibition at Turkish House (Türkevi) titled, “From Roots to the Future: Women’s Labor and Craft.”

The ministry will also host a dinner program titled “Common Tables, Common Future: Iftar for Women’s Empowerment.” The event is expected to draw 150 high-level officials, including 22 ministers, from 30 countries and five international organizations. Representatives from U.N. agencies such as the UNFPA, UNICEF and U.N. Women will attend to observe the contributions of women to production and employment.

On Wednesday, Göktaş will attend a signing ceremony for a cooperation protocol between the ministry and Turkish Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED) to promote gender equality in business and supply chain practices.

Later, she will speak at a joint event with Serbia titled, “The Critical Role of Women: Strategic Partnerships for Empowerment,” focusing on women’s leadership and the social inclusion of elderly women.

On Thursday, the minister will deliver opening remarks at a side event organized with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Gambia. The discussion will focus on Türkiye’s policies and field experience in combating new technology-based forms of violence.

Göktaş will also serve as a keynote speaker at various international panels organized by NGOs and business groups.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran are raising concerns about disruptions to global energy and food supply chains, with experts saying Türkiye could emerge as a key stabilizing actor by helping establish alternative trade corridors.

The narrow waterway, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handles a significant share of global oil, liquefied natural gas and fertilizer shipments. Any prolonged disruption to traffic there could ripple across global markets, increasing energy costs, agricultural production expenses and ultimately food prices.

Analysts say the evolving crisis may also open a diplomatic and logistical space for Türkiye to leverage its geographic position and mediation experience to help ensure the continued flow of essential commodities.

Bülent Gülçubuk, a professor at Ankara University’s Faculty of Agriculture, said the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz extends far beyond energy markets and directly affects the global food system.

Roughly one-fifth of global oil trade passes through the strait, along with a substantial portion of liquefied natural gas shipments, he said, adding that the resulting impact on energy prices inevitably feeds into agricultural costs.

“Agriculture in Türkiye and around the world is highly dependent on energy,” Gülçubuk said in comments to Anadolu Agency (AA). “Fuel, electricity, irrigation, fertilizer production, cold-chain logistics, storage and transportation are all directly linked to energy costs.”

Because of this structural dependence, any crisis affecting energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could trigger sudden increases in agricultural production costs and global food prices, he said.

According to Gülçubuk, countries with fragile food security systems, particularly developing economies that rely heavily on agriculture, would likely be the most affected by such price shocks.

At the same time, he said, geopolitical crises can also create opportunities for countries with strong logistical networks and diplomatic capacity to assume a more active role in maintaining global trade flows.

“In this geopolitical environment, Türkiye has the potential to take on an important role both regionally and globally,” he said.

Gülçubuk pointed to Türkiye’s role in facilitating the Black Sea Grain Initiative during the Russia-Ukraine war as an example of its ability to act as a mediator and logistics hub during global supply disruptions.

He said a similar approach could be considered in response to potential disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

“Türkiye could once again assume a mission to establish an energy and food corridor, helping safeguard global food security and contributing to stability,” he said.

Situated at the crossroads of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Türkiye’s geographic location and transportation infrastructure position it as a natural bridge for energy flows and agricultural trade, Gülçubuk added.

With its port infrastructure, storage capacity and established commercial networks, Türkiye could serve as a regional distribution hub for strategic commodities, he said.

Such a role would not only strengthen the country’s own food security but also contribute to stabilizing global markets during periods of uncertainty, he added.

Zeki Bayramoğlu, head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Selçuk University’s Faculty of Agriculture, said the latest tensions in the Gulf have once again exposed structural vulnerabilities in the global food supply chain.

While international markets have largely focused on rising oil prices, Bayramoğlu said agricultural economists are particularly concerned about fertilizer supply security.

“The strategic importance of Hormuz goes far beyond energy,” he said.

According to data from June 2025, about 33% of globally traded fertilizer, including sulfur and ammonia, passes through the Strait of Hormuz, Bayramoğlu said. On a monthly basis, shipments from the region range between 3 million and 3.9 million metric tons.

Of that amount, roughly 1.5 million to 1.8 million tons consist of sulfur and between 1.2 million and 1.5 million tons are urea, he said.

Major regional exporters including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran ranked among the world’s leading nitrogen fertilizer exporters in 2024, together accounting for about 25% of global nitrogen exports.

Bayramoğlu said modern agriculture’s reliance on fertilizers makes the sector particularly vulnerable to disruptions in these supply chains.

If the Strait of Hormuz were to close completely, global sulfur supply could shrink by about 44% and urea supply by around 30%, he warned.

He also noted that for large cargo vessels, there is effectively no practical alternative route that could replace the Strait of Hormuz.

“Global agricultural policies must therefore prioritize not only increasing production but also diversifying fertilizer supply security, reducing dependence on energy inputs and developing alternative trade corridors,” Bayramoğlu said.

He added that the structural similarities between the 2022 Black Sea crisis and the current tensions in the Gulf are noteworthy.

In both cases, a critical maritime corridor for agricultural inputs and food shipments has been threatened during an active conflict environment, disrupting global trade flows, he said.

Bayramoğlu suggested that a mechanism inspired by the Black Sea Grain Initiative, potentially called a “Food and Fertilizer Safe Passage Initiative,” could be established.

Rather than creating a militarized maritime corridor, such a mechanism could coordinate commercial transit arrangements for ships carrying food and fertilizer, bringing together importing countries, exporting companies, logistics firms and international organizations, he said.

He added that such a platform could potentially operate from Istanbul, drawing on Türkiye’s diplomatic credibility and mediation experience.

However, Bayramoğlu cautioned that the success of such an initiative would depend both on Ankara’s strategic determination and on the willingness of multiple international actors to support a diplomatic solution.

“Diplomatic windows are temporary by nature,” he said. “They require technical preparation and political will to emerge at the same time.”

Almost one year after his arrest, Istanbul’s former mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, clashed with the presiding judge on Monday in a chaotic start to a sweeping corruption trial involving more than 400 defendants tied to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Imamoğlu, 55, demanded permission to speak at the start of the proceedings, but the judge refused as the court began hearing procedural motions from defense lawyers representing the hundreds of suspects.

Imamoğlu is accused of leading a criminal organization for profit, involving tender-rigging and bribery. He and his main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deny the corruption charges, which carry prison sentences amounting to over 2,000 years.

After Imamoğlu was escorted into the courtroom, the court began taking procedural requests from lawyers. His attorney said the former mayor wanted to deliver a brief three- or four-paragraph greeting to supporters and colleagues present in the courtroom.

The presiding judge rejected the request, saying there was no such procedure during criminal trials.

“Does such a greeting happen in other trials? You cannot take the floor right now. You cannot simply get up and come to the podium to request to speak,” the judge said.

When Imamoğlu insisted, saying “I want to speak,” the judge responded: “You cannot. Turn off the microphone.”

Imamoğlu then walked to the podium and shouted, without a microphone, that he wanted the floor. The judge warned him that he could not continue in that manner.

The exchange prompted protests from some lawyers and spectators attending the hearing.

The court later stated that the defendant had come to the podium despite not being granted permission to speak and had continued talking despite repeated warnings. The judge cautioned that if Imamoğlu continued to disrupt court order, he could be removed from the courtroom.

The tense atmosphere escalated when one defense lawyer complained that the list of defendants scheduled to present their defense had not been formally shared with the legal teams but had instead appeared in a newspaper report.

As murmurs and protests grew among spectators, the presiding judge warned the audience.

“This trial cannot proceed with applause and slogans in the courtroom,” the judge said, adding that the gallery would be emptied if the disruptions continued.

When reactions persisted, the judge ordered gendarmerie officers to clear the courtroom. The judicial panel then left the chamber, and the hearing was adjourned until 1:30 p.m.

Charges

Prosecutors say Imamoğlu headed a criminal organization that coordinated bribery, bid-rigging and fraud schemes connected to municipal contracts, along with money laundering and other offenses.

The indictment names 407 suspects in total, including more than 100 who remain in detention and several fugitives. Prosecutors say the alleged network included senior municipal officials and business figures who worked within a structured hierarchy.

According to the indictment, the organization operated through different branches responsible for various activities linked to municipal tenders and financial transactions.

Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from 849 years to more than 2,400 years for Imamoğlu if he is convicted on all charges.

The case also includes accusations against several other municipal officials and administrators alleged to have played leadership roles within the network.

Some suspects who prosecutors describe as senior members of the organization have provided information about the group’s structure after their arrest and may be eligible for reduced sentences under provisions for cooperating defendants.

The trial, which involves hundreds of defendants and dozens of alleged offenses, is expected to continue for months as the court hears testimony and examines evidence related to one of the largest corruption investigations involving a Turkish municipality in recent years.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

France on Monday denounced the launch of a ballistic missile from Iran toward Türkiye, calling on Tehran to immediately stop what it described as unjustified attacks in the region.

“France condemns in the strongest possible terms the Iranian missile launch that was intercepted in Turkish airspace by the missile defense system of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),” France’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that Paris stands alongside its allies and partners “who have been drawn into the conflict against their will.” Both France and Türkiye are longstanding members of the NATO alliance.

“Iran must cease unjustified strikes targeting states in the region,” it added.

The Defense Ministry said Monday that a ballistic missile that was fired from Iran into Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The ministry said some debris from the missile fell onto vacant land in the country’s southeastern Gaziantep province, adding that there were no casualties or injuries.

The development came amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, launched on Feb. 28, which have so far killed more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to U.S. military assets.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.