Politics
Erdoğan warns against US-Iran war, slams Israeli aggression
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that a new conflict involving Iran would plunge the Middle East into “a fresh wave of destruction,” stressing that Türkiye firmly opposes any U.S. or Israeli military action and is ready to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat published Tuesday, Erdoğan said Türkiye has urged all counterparts to exercise restraint amid ongoing regional tensions.
“The wounds inflicted by the implementation of such scenarios in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan remain vivid in our collective memory. For this reason, as Türkiye, we categorically oppose the outbreak of a new war or a new wave of destruction in our region,” Erdoğan said, adding that Ankara advocates resolving issues through dialogue, reason, prudence, and sound judgment.
“We have openly and consistently expressed our opposition to any military intervention against Iran on every platform,” the president said, and added that they advise their counterparts to refrain from “any steps that could escalate tensions, exercising due restraint.”
Noting that Türkiye is ready to undertake a facilitation role, Erdoğan said Ankara continues to diplomatically engage with the U.S. and Iran and opposes every step that would escalate tensions in the region.
Türkiye has sought to solve the crisis through diplomacy and was scheduled to hold U.S.-Iran talks but sources said Tuesday that Tehran wants its planned meeting shifted from Istanbul to Oman and limit them strictly to bilateral nuclear talks.
“Our aim is not to manage crises, but to prevent them,” he said.
Regarding Gaza, Erdoğan said the main barrier to the second phase of the peace plan is the fragility of the cease-fire and Israel’s continued obstruction of aid and displacement of civilians. He called for Israel’s gradual withdrawal in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803, immediate large-scale reconstruction and uninterrupted humanitarian access. He noted that Türkiye is prepared to contribute to a peacekeeping or international mission in Gaza once the conditions are met.
“The label does not matter – the mission must protect civilians, support aid delivery and reinforce lasting peace,” he said.
Erdoğan sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for rejecting Turkish and Qatari involvement in Gaza, saying such debates “do not produce solutions.” He stressed that any postwar arrangement must reflect the will of the Palestinian people, calling this “the only source of legitimacy.”
The president also condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling the move “illegitimate, null and void,” and warning that it threatens stability in the Horn of Africa. He said Türkiye will continue defending Somalia’s territorial integrity and welcomed the swift rejection of the decision by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the OIC, the Arab League, the EU and African Union officials.
Regarding Syria, Erdoğan said emerging diplomatic and on-the-ground developments in Türkiye’s southern neighbor indicate that a new political horizon is possible, emphasizing that any lasting settlement must preserve the country’s territorial integrity and restore state authority nationwide.
He said narrowing conflict zones and recent integration steps show progress, but stressed that durable peace also requires social reconciliation and a shared sense of belonging under the central government. Erdoğan noted that Türkiye’s benchmark is a Syria that does not threaten its neighbors, rejects terrorist safe havens and includes all communities on an equal-citizenship basis. He added that Türkiye, together with partners such as Saudi Arabia, will support every constructive initiative that strengthens Syria’s unity and stability both in negotiations and on the ground.
Erdoğan also highlighted Türkiye’s recent humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives in Sudan, including reopening the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Ziraat Bank offices in Port Sudan, restarting Turkish Airlines flights and delivering more than 12,000 tons of aid. He said Türkiye will support coordination among Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States in efforts to end the conflict.
Türkiye’s ambassador to the U.S. said Tuesday that Ankara remains firmly committed to supporting Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while endorsing regional and international efforts aimed at bringing an end to the conflict.
“Türkiye reaffirms its strong support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we consider critically important for the stability of Sudan and the wider region,” Sedat Önal said during remarks at an event involving the Sudan Humanitarian Fund at the US Peace Institute in Washington, D.C.
“We believe that the most effective way to end the conflict is through dialogue and diplomacy. We support regional and international efforts aiming to end the conflict,” Önal said.
The event was hosted by Massad Boulos, the U.S. State Department’s senior adviser for Arab and African Affairs, and attended by the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) Tom Fletcher, as well as senior U.S. officials and diplomats from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, the U.K., France and other countries.
Önal said Türkiye’s sole aim in the current exceptional circumstances is to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and support Sudanese authorities in addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
He noted that Türkiye was among the first countries to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict.
Sudan has been locked in a bloody conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions of others.
On Oct. 26 last year, the RSF seized control of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, and committed massacres of civilians, according to local and international organizations, amid warnings that the assault could entrench the country’s geographical partition.
Önal said that 30,000 tents were sent to Sudan on three vessels last December in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) following the “tragic” developments in el-Fasher.
“The Turkish Red Crescent and several Turkish NGOs continue to provide various forms of humanitarian assistance ranging from food to shelter and hygiene supplies to people in need in different regions of Sudan,” he said, noting that Türkiye will continue to make in-kind contributions in the “coming weeks.”
The Washington donor meeting came as the U.S. seeks to mobilize up to $1.5 billion in new pledges for Sudan amid renewed efforts to secure a humanitarian truce ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins later this month.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Egypt from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his second stopover in a regional tour.
Erdoğan, accompanied by a delegation of ministers and businesspeople, was welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Erdoğan is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart later. The president earlier announced that his talks in Egypt would focus on economic cooperation and regional issues, including the rebuilding of Gaza.
The Turkish president is in Cairo at the invitation of el-Sissi to co-chair the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
During the Egypt visit, Erdoğan and el-Sissi are expected to discuss bilateral issues and exchange views on regional and international developments, with particular focus on Palestine.
Erdoğan also plans to attend a Türkiye-Egypt Business Forum during his Cairo visit.
Türkiye and Egypt are working closely to halt Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, secure a lasting cease-fire and create conditions for Gaza’s reconstruction. Erdoğan and el-Sissi signed a declaration of intent at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace held in Egypt in October 2025, which was also attended by U.S. President Donald Trump.
As part of efforts to implement the second phase of the cease-fire in Gaza, a Gaza Executive Committee was established, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan representing Türkiye and Egyptian Intelligence chief Hassan Rashad representing Egypt. Türkiye is a core member of the mediation group alongside Egypt, Qatar and the United States, and is prepared to contribute to an International Stabilization Force in Gaza if requested.
Rising high-level diplomatic engagement has led to a surge in joint projects between Türkiye and Egypt across sectors, including trade, energy, defense, tourism, health care, technology and agriculture.
The trade volume between Türkiye and Egypt, Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa, reached $8.8 billion (TL 382.87 billion) in 2024. During that period, Türkiye’s exports totaled $4.2 billion, while imports stood at $4.6 billion. Erdoğan and el-Sissi have set a joint target of increasing bilateral trade volume to $15 billion by 2028. Relevant ministries are carrying out intensive work to achieve that goal.
Türkiye and Egypt, both of which have long coastlines along the Mediterranean, have significant potential for cooperation in offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production. Military cooperation between the two countries has also gained notable momentum in recent months.
The visit to Türkiye by Egyptian Chief of Staff Ahmed Fathi Khalifa in May 2025 marked the beginning of a new phase in military relations. The uncrewed platforms AKREP and HAMZA-1, developed by Turkish defense company Havelsan, were unveiled for the first time at the EDEX 2025 Egypt Defense Expo.
In addition, the “Türkiye-Egypt Sea of Friendship 2025” naval exercise, held in the Eastern Mediterranean in September 2025 after a 13-year hiatus, stood out as a concrete reflection of growing military cooperation between the two countries.
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) vowed not to back down from an initiative he co-founded for the dissolution of the terrorist group PKK. Addressing his party’s parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on Tuesday, Bahçeli said their “terror-free Türkiye and terror-free region” goals were “moves for self-determination of the fate of the Turkish nation.” “Whoever dismisses these goals are puppets and cowards. Whoever attempts to undermine it with their remarks and actions has bad intentions,” he said.
Bahçeli launched the initiative in 2024 in another parliamentary group meeting of the MHP, where he called upon the PKK’s jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, to order the group to lay down arms after more than four decades of violence. Öcalan responded with a call to the PKK in February 2025 to dissolve itself. The PKK largely complied with the call and held a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq last summer where its members burned down weapons. Bahçeli and the government later expanded the initiative to the “terror-free region” by urging the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, which shunned the initiative, to join it. The YPG ultimately reached a deal with Damascus for integration into the new Syrian security forces, but the deal is not fully implemented yet. Recently, the Syrian army began retaking areas occupied by the YPG in a major offensive, forcing the group to sign another deal with Damascus.
In the wake of the Syrian offensive, the YPG attempted to portray operations as attacks on Kurds while pro-PKK groups in Türkiye joined this YPG campaign, stoking riots near the Turkish-Syrian border. Bahçeli said it was a malignant attempt to “provoke our Kurdish brothers.” “You cannot align Kurdish brothers and sisters with the YPG,” he said on Tuesday.
Bahçeli said developments in Syria, where the Syrian army started regaining control in YPG-occupied Hassakeh, as an important stage in the terror-free region initiative.
“The PKK’s founder fulfilled his promise in 2025 and ensured that the separatist terrorist group is dissolved and had its weapons burned. His call for the dissolution is binding for all groups associated with the PKK,” Bahçeli stressed.
“Those aiming to disrupt the eternal brotherhood of Turks and Kurds will lose. Those equating our Kurdish brothers with the terrorist group will lose,” he added. “Our march to achieve the goal of superpower Türkiye will continue. We have one homeland. The MHP will never concede from its goals. Our stance is clear. Anatolia should be peaceful, Öcalan should have hope, the Ahmets should return to office and Demirtaş should return home,” he said. Bahçeli in 2024 has proposed that Öcalan should be entitled to the “right to hope” if he works for the dissolution of the PKK.
The “Ahmets” Bahçeli was referring to are Ahmet Özer and Ahmet Türk. Özer, of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was suspended from office and arrested in 2024 for his links to the PKK while he was serving as mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district. Türk, a prominent politician of Kurdish origin, was also suspended from the post of mayor of Mardin in the southeast in 2024 for his alleged links to the PKK. Türk was a mayor for the pro-PKK Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), whose spiritual predecessor Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was co-chaired by Selahattin Demirtaş. Demirtaş was arrested in 2016 and was sentenced for provoking fatal pro-PKK riots which rocked Türkiye in 2014.
US threat for Iran
Bahçeli also commented on potential U.S. military action against Türkiye’s eastern neighbor, Iran. He stated that it would pose a fundamental danger that would have devastating consequences not only for Iran and the region but for the entire world.
He said any scenario aimed at installing “so-called moderate, but in reality shackled and co-opted puppet leaders in Iran through military force would trigger a series of grave consequences.”
“After Venezuela, turning to Iran would amount to nothing more than an open invitation to disaster,” he said. Bahçeli added that a U.S. strike on Iran, “driven by Zionism,” would be an unacceptable act of imperialist vandalism. “No country has such a right or authority,” he said, arguing that the only force capable of determining the future of Iran or any other sovereign and equal independent state is the will and dignity of its own people. He said dialogue and diplomacy should be prioritized between the United States and Iran, and praised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s efforts to mediate and de-escalate tensions as “respectable and worthy of appreciation.”
Iran’s peace and security, he said, like Syria’s, are a cornerstone of regional stability. “Dislodging this cornerstone through a military operation against Iran would unleash a chain of problems that would be difficult to contain,” he warned.
Bahçeli cautioned that if a climate of war and armed conflict were to expand globally to include Iran after Russia and Ukraine, “nightmare scenarios would turn into reality.” He said Qatar’s mediation and Türkiye’s intensive efforts should contribute to resolving the disputes between the United States and Iran through mutual agreement. “Our region cannot endure another war,” he said.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have announced a broad expansion of cooperation across economic, energy, defense and regional security fields following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to the kingdom on Feb. 3, 2026, with both governments emphasizing shared interests, historic ties and a joint commitment to stability across the region.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Directorate said that the two sides praised the strength of bilateral relations and highlighted ongoing coordination in areas ranging from trade and investment to defense, renewable energy and digital transformation. Officials noted that the two nations aim to align opportunities created under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Türkiye’s Century Vision to boost non-oil trade, support major infrastructure projects and encourage private sector partnerships. The statement welcomed the progress made during the Turkish-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, which showcased new prospects in tourism, construction, ICT, health and manufacturing.
The two governments said they would continue strengthening coordination under the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, covering fields such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, space technologies, civil aviation, logistics, culture, youth, education, media, environment, food security and customs. They affirmed readiness to enhance defense ties and expand collaboration against terrorism, extremism, cyberthreats and transnational crime.
On regional issues, the statement emphasized joint efforts to promote peace and stability, voicing deep concern over escalating conflicts and the humanitarian toll in several hotspots. Regarding Palestine, both sides condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, the blockade of aid and the worsening humanitarian crisis. They called for an immediate strengthening of the cease-fire, the reopening of crossings for unrestricted aid delivery, and progress toward a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state. The statement also condemned Israel’s destruction of UNRWA facilities in occupied Jerusalem.
The two countries reiterated support for diplomatic initiatives on Yemen, Somalia and Sudan, backing legitimate institutions, territorial integrity and political processes aimed at resolving conflicts and restoring stability. They rejected unilateral or separatist moves that undermine national unity in these countries.
Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation, including within global and regional organizations, and noted Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the G20 Summit in 2030. They also welcomed the signing of four new agreements covering justice, renewable energy, peaceful space cooperation and research and innovation.
Both countries also reaffirmed plans to deepen energy cooperation, including in oil derivatives, petrochemicals, power grid connectivity, renewable energy technologies, and clean hydrogen. They also underscored the need to secure critical mineral supply chains and pursue joint research on low-emission technologies. Saudi Arabia expressed support for Türkiye’s presidency and hosting of COP31 in Antalya in November 2026.
Erdoğan arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday, on the first day of his trip to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, which established diplomatic relations with the signing of the Friendship Treaty in 1929, have built strong ties over nearly a century through high-level reciprocal visits and regional organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Iran wants its planned meeting with the United States shifted from Türkiye to Oman and limited strictly to bilateral nuclear talks, a regional source said Tuesday, raising uncertainty over whether the discussions will proceed.
Iran’s effort to change the venue and agenda for the talks, currently scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, came amid heightened tensions as the U.S. builds up forces in the Middle East.
Regional players have pushed for a resolution of a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes.
The U.S. military on Tuesday shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the U.S. military said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that with big U.S. warships heading to Iran, “bad things” would probably happen if a deal could not be reached.
“They want to change the format, they want to change the scope,” said the regional diplomat with knowledge of Iran’s demands.
“They only want to discuss the nuclear file with the Americans, while the U.S. wants to include other topics such as the (ballistic) missiles and the activities of Iran’s proxies in the region.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Tuesday that talks with Iran were still scheduled to take place later this week.
A source familiar with the situation said on Tuesday that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was due to take part in the talks, along with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Ministers from several other countries in the region were also expected to attend.
An Iranian diplomatic source said earlier that Tehran’s view of the talks is neither optimistic nor pessimistic, adding that the Islamic Republic’s defensive capabilities are non-negotiable and that it is ready for any scenario.
“It remains to be seen whether the United States also intends to conduct serious, results-oriented negotiations or not,” the source said.
Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran publicly thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the club completed the high-profile transfer of France international N’Golo Kante, a deal that unraveled and was put back together in dramatic fashion over the final hours of the January window.
Saran’s message, released shortly after the transfer became official on Feb. 4, underscored the political and diplomatic dimension behind one of Turkish football’s most complicated signings in recent years.
While Fenerbahçe celebrated landing a World Cup winner, the club president made clear the move would not have been finalized without high-level support from Erdoğan, who was coincidentally on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia at the time of the announcement.
“Our club has successfully completed the transfer process of one of world football’s most important players, N’Golo Kante,” Saran said in a written statement. “I would like to express my gratitude, on behalf of myself and our club, to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the significant support he provided in ensuring this process concluded positively, in a way that will benefit both Fenerbahçe and Turkish football.”
Kante, 34, agreed to join Fenerbahçe during the January 2026 transfer window after leaving Chelsea for Saudi side Al-Ittihad in 2023.
A 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and two-time Premier League champion, he remains one of the most respected defensive midfielders of his generation.
Yet the deal nearly collapsed at the final hurdle.
Contract termination issues, documentation discrepancies and system approvals between Al-Ittihad and FIFA left the transfer hanging by a thread late on Feb. 3. Fenerbahçe acknowledged the process had become increasingly uncertain, with reports suggesting the move was close to being abandoned altogether.
The breakthrough came overnight. Al-Ittihad agreed to terminate Kante’s contract, FIFA intervened to unblock procedural barriers, and legal arrangements were finalized in the early hours of Feb. 4.
Fenerbahçe formally registered the transfer with the Turkish Football Federation and signed Kante to a 2.5-year contract running through June 2028.
The club marked the announcement with a pointed message: “Some stories take time, but they are never left unfinished. Welcome to Fenerbahçe, N’Golo Kante.”
Beyond the footballing impact, Saran’s explicit thanks to Erdoğan fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes diplomacy, particularly amid Türkiye’s ongoing relations with Saudi Arabia.
Observers noted that Erdoğan’s regional engagements may have helped ease tensions with Al-Ittihad during the decisive phase of talks.
Saran also emphasized the role of supporters, calling the faith and patience of Fenerbahçe’s fan base the club’s “greatest source of motivation” throughout the ordeal.
“Throughout this process, the belief of the Fenerbahçe supporters in their club, their strong backing and the trust they showed in us were our greatest source of strength,” Saran said. “Now is the time to carry that strength onto the pitch, stand with our team and succeed together. We will believe together, fight together and achieve together.”
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