Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli addressed his party’s parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, focusing largely on the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran and support for the Iranian people.

In his speech, Bahceli strongly criticized what he described as attacks against Iran, calling them immoral and urging support for the Iranian people. “In the face of this immoral aggression, it is time to stand for justice and law, and to stand with the people of Iran against Zionist oppression,” he said.

He emphasized Türkiye’s close historical and cultural ties with Iran, describing it as “not just a neighbor but a country of religious and linguistic kin.” Bahçeli called on the international community to stand against what he described as injustice and to support diplomatic efforts led by Türkiye.

Highlighting the risks of further escalation, Bahçeli warned that attacks on energy infrastructure, including oil facilities and transit routes, could trigger global economic disruptions. He pointed specifically to threats to key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, saying increased military activity could deepen energy security risks and strain supply chains.

Bahçeli also described Israel’s actions in Gaza, as well as toward Iran and Lebanon, as “aggressive policies” that have turned the region “into a hell,” and argued that Israel poses a serious threat to international peace and stability. He also claimed that perceptions of U.S. Middle East policy being influenced by Israel have fueled growing backlash among Western and American publics.

Turning to Washington, Bahçeli urged U.S. President Donald Trump to take into account anti-war protests and restrain Israel, saying Trump had come to power promising to end wars but instead contributed to “destruction that will be difficult to repair.”

Moreover, he also criticized the international system as ineffective, saying global institutions, including the United Nations, have failed to prevent escalating violence. He warned that rising tensions, weakened diplomacy and even suggestions of nuclear confrontation signal a dangerous trajectory.

“The world must adopt a common stance against war,” Bahçeli said, calling for an immediate cease-fire and renewed diplomatic engagement.

“There will be no winners in this conflict, but innocent people everywhere will bear its consequences.”

The U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, targeting the country’s leadership, nuclear program and military infrastructure, triggering a rapidly escalating regional conflict marked by sustained airstrikes, retaliatory attacks and mounting civilian casualties.

TRNC as national priority

Bahçeli accused European countries of turning a blind eye to the “aggressive policies” of the Greek Cypriot administration, which he said has been strengthened through arms shipments. He stressed that Türkiye cannot ignore threats to its kin in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), describing the island as “not a routine foreign policy matter but a national cause and an indispensable sovereignty issue.”

Highlighting broader global risks, Bahçeli said the world is “on the brink of political, economic and humanitarian upheaval,” citing uncertainties in energy security, food supply, migration flows and trade routes. He argued that these crises are not accidental but rather the result of a new imperialist drive to control global resources and expand spheres of influence, with innocent populations paying the price.

Bahçeli added that, amid statements by some circles in Israel portraying Türkiye as a “new target,” it is historically and strategically necessary for Türkiye to remain strong, resilient and united internally. He warned that any attempts to weaken the country’s internal front through rhetoric, actions or provocations directly threaten national security.

“Türkiye cannot be governed through short-term political debates, cheap calculations or irresponsible statements,” Bahçeli said.

Bahçeli’s remarks came amid the rising tensions in the Middle East and growing military cooperation between the Greek Cypriot administration and its Western partners.

According to Greek Cypriot and Greek media reports, two Greek frigates have recently arrived in waters controlled by the Greek Cypriot administration.

European countries also pledged to send air defense systems and other military assets to the Greek Cypriot administration, while France deployed an aircraft carrier, a frigate and air defense units to the Mediterranean.

Terror-free Türkiye initiative

Bahçeli noted that the “National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission,” established within the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, has completed its work, producing a joint commission report and laying the groundwork for societal consensus. He said the next step is to swiftly enact laws that support the project’s objectives.

Bahçeli stressed that national unity and solidarity will be Türkiye’s most effective response to hostile attempts. He described the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative as a “guiding star” for the state and society, highlighting the need for all political actors and community segments to act carefully and avoid provocations.

Bahçeli warned that certain foreign capitals and intelligence networks are attempting to exploit societal divisions through voluntary or paid agents, but he underlined that Türkiye’s goal remains the creation of a more democratic, effective, stable, and prosperous nation.

“Our aim and effort is to disrupt external schemes and shape a future where our people lead the story, rejecting imperialist agendas,” he said. Bahçeli added that the terror-free Türkiye goal, seen as a historic opportunity for the country and region, will be realized through strong social support and political determination.

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Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, based in Istanbul, incurred the wrath of Russia again. Russia on Tuesday accused the top cleric of attempting to assert control over the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) through appointing his candidate to the vacant post of the catholicos-patriarch of all Georgia.

The press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement that Bartholomew is taking advantage of the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.

“Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople continues to persistently pursue a treacherous course toward the schism of global Orthodoxy, guided by the principle of ‘divide and rule,'” the statement said, using the pre-Ottoman name for Istanbul. “The Phanariot wishes to promote a representative of the GOC to the vacated position whom he could rely on.”

The SVR claimed that Bartholomew is considering Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) of Western Europe and Metropolitan Gregory (Berbichashvili) of Poti and Khobi as candidates for this role.

“In his inner circle, he portrays them as the most suitable executors of his will,” it said.

According to the intelligence service, church circles note that “lust for power has become a constant companion of the Constantinopolitan schismatic.”

“Through his actions, Bartholomew is once again substituting ‘primacy of honor’ with ‘primacy of power,’ interfering in the internal affairs of yet another, let us note, one of the most ancient Orthodox churches, the Georgian Orthodox Church,” it said.

The SVR stressed that in Georgia, as in Ukraine, Serbia and the Baltic countries, Bartholomew must remember the second rule of the Second Ecumenical Council, which states that “regional bishops shall not extend their authority to churches beyond their own region.”

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Türkiye on Tuesday strongly condemned the controversial new Israeli law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians, calling it unlawful and a step that deepens systemic discrimination.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the legislation adopted by the Knesset is designed to be applied exclusively to Palestinians and constitutes a continuation of policies targeting the Palestinian people.

The ministry said the measure is “null and void” under international law and criticized Israel for further entrenching practices that undermine Palestinian rights.

Ankara also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take action in response to what it described as Israel’s unlawful steps.

Israel’s parliament approved the legislation Monday, establishing capital punishment as the standard sentence for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of carrying out deadly attacks against Israelis.

According to the law, executions would be conducted by hanging, carried out by designated prison personnel from the Israeli Prison Service, who would be granted anonymity and legal protection.

Those sentenced would be held in specialized detention facilities, with visits restricted to authorized individuals. Access to legal counsel would also be limited, with meetings taking place only via video link.

The law permits courts to impose the death penalty without a formal request from prosecutors and allows verdicts to be reached by a simple majority rather than a unanimous decision.

It extends to military courts that prosecute Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and enables the defense minister to submit an opinion during proceedings.

The legislation further removes the right to appeal once a death sentence has been handed down.

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Mustafa Bozbey, mayor of Türkiye’s fourth largest city, Bursa, for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was detained on Tuesday, along with 54 other suspects. Authorities said Bozbey and others face charges of running a criminal organization, bribery, money laundering and zoning violations. The Sabah newspaper reported that Bozbey’s wife, daughter and brothers were among other detainees.

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office in northwestern Türkiye said an investigation was underway against Bozbey and others on allegations that the mayor, during his tenure as mayor of Nilüfer, a district of Bursa, was involved in taking bribes in return for illegally changing zoning plans. The statement said Bozbey’s successor as Nilüfer mayor, Turgay Erdem, was also involved in the scheme. Erdem was arrested in a similar operation last year.

Prosecutors said Bozbey was the leader of a criminal ring, adding that four other suspects wanted in the same probe were at large.

The main opposition CHP is under mounting scrutiny as a wave of corruption, bribery and terrorism-related investigations sweeps across its municipalities.

Authorities say several major investigations are underway into municipalities controlled by the CHP, covering allegations from large-scale tender rigging and bribery to financing terrorist organizations.

The most extensive probe targets the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), led by ousted Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, over claims of systematic corruption, fictitious tenders and abuse of public resources. Prosecutors allege a network, headed by senior municipal officials, rigged numerous public contracts. Imamoğlu and his aides deny all charges.

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March 31 marks the “Day of Genocide” of Azerbaijanis, a chilling episode in the history of the country where 50,000 people were slaughtered by Armenian gangs in 1918. The day is a painful reminder of the past for Azerbaijan, which only recently managed to retake its territory from Armenian occupiers.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the final days of Tsarist Russia, Armenians who had been settled in various regions of Azerbaijan took advantage of the power vacuum to begin massacring Azerbaijanis and seizing their lands.

Arming themselves from 1905 onward, the Armenian gangs stirred up unrest across the country, particularly in Baku.

With the revolution in Russia in 1917, the Tsarist regime collapsed. The Bolsheviks, who came to power, also took control of the administration in Baku. Armenian Bolshevik revolutionary Stepan Shaumian provided political and financial support to Armenian gangs, leading to an increase in attacks against Azerbaijanis.

Between March 30 and April 3, 1918, Armenian and Bolshevik gangs massacred 50,000 Azerbaijanis in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangezur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan and other regions. The massacre ended when the Ottoman army, known as the “Caucasian Islamic Army,” came to Azerbaijan’s aid and cleared the country of these gangs.

The atrocities and massacres committed by Armenians in Azerbaijan in 1918 are recognized as “genocide.”

The late President Heydar Aliyev, through a decree signed in 1998, decided that March 31 would be commemorated as “Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.”

Azerbaijan’s ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, stated that the events of March-April 1918 were one of the bloodiest and most tragic examples of systematic attacks against Azerbaijanis.

In a statement to an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent on Tuesday, Aliyeva said that systematic and ruthless crimes have been committed against Azerbaijanis by Armenians since the beginning of the 20th century, both in various regions of Azerbaijan and in present-day Armenia.

Stating that thousands of innocent people were killed during this process due to their national and religious identities, Aliyeva noted that these events have gone down in history as mass massacres.

Aliyeva emphasized that the international recognition of the genocide crimes committed against Azerbaijanis and the ensuring of justice are of great importance to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes against humanity in the future.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in Ankara on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources.

The meeting focused on regional and global developments, the sources said.

The sources said on Monday that Türkiye would reiterate its full support to the State of Palestine, safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people and the vision for a two-state solution during the talks. It was also highlighted that Türkiye will not allow the Netanyahu government’s illegal actions and annexation policies in the occupied Palestinian territories to hinder regional and international efforts for the two-state solution.

Fidan was also expected to underline the international community’s responsibility to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from deepening. The talks would focus on the “Board of Peace” and related mechanisms, the situation on the field and future steps, sources said, adding that they would also raise the issue of Israel’s attempts to undermine the Board of Peace’s activities.

The Turkish public and government are major supporters of the Palestinian cause. Türkiye has been a traditional ally to Palestine, but as the Israeli attacks became more brutal, Ankara has become harsher in its criticism in the past year. It has condemned what it calls genocide, halted all trade with Israel and applied to join the genocide case against Israel at the World Court, which Israel rejects.

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