The Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers discussed the nuclear talks set to take place in Istanbul on Friday in a phone call, Turkish diplomatic sources said on Monday.

Hakan Fidan and Abbas Araghchi also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and developments in Syria, said sources.

A new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the three European countries, known as the E3 – comprising the U.K., France and Germany – is set to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday.

The talks mark a potential step forward in efforts to revive or renegotiate aspects of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has faced significant setbacks since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

In talks with Araghchi on Thursday, the top diplomats of the U.K., France, Germany and the European Union emphasized the urgency of returning to diplomacy for a nuclear deal, or else they were prepared to trigger the U.N. “snapback” mechanism, which would reimpose international sanctions.

Talks between Tehran and the U.S. were being held through Omani mediators until Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which triggered a 12-day war. The attack came just two days before a planned sixth round of negotiations in the Omani capital Muscat.

Iran accused the U.S. of complicity in the Israeli attack, which killed top Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists and civilians. The U.S. also launched strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, claiming to have obliterated them. A cease-fire took effect on June 24.

While the U.S. and Europeans say Iran can never have a nuclear bomb, Tehran argues its program is meant for the peaceful use of nuclear power.

After the talks with the E3 and EU, Araghchi highlighted that it was the U.S. that withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord, and any new round of negotiations is only possible “when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.”

“If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snapback’ for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground,” he said on X.

Connecting Europe and Asia, Istanbul fosters numerous connections between the two continents and serves as a hub of diplomacy. The city has hosted talks between Iran and Western powers, as well as two rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks and discussions on the future of Syria, which brought together foreign diplomats.

Türkiye is keen on boosting its international profile as a key mediator and utilizes Istanbul’s symbolic location to promote diplomacy between the sides of conflicts and disagreements on a global level.

Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has emerged as a key player in diplomacy, thanks to an effective foreign policy grounded in win-win principles. Its geopolitical advantage also plays into Türkiye’s hands.

Iran maintains good neighborly relations with Türkiye, which stood against Israel’s attacks on Tehran.

Türkiye advocates a peaceful settlement to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and harshly criticized Israel for launching attacks on Iran, allegedly to prevent the latter from developing nuclear weapons.

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Türkiye views any attempts to divide Syria as a national security threat and would directly intervene if such an attempt were made, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference with his El Salvadorian counterpart, Alexandra Hill, in the capital Ankara, Fidan said Israel was seeking to “drag the region to chaos to preserve its status” and that the unrest in Syria’s Druze-majority south was a “reflection of that.”

“As Türkiye, we could never stay silent against such a move,” Fidan said, stressing that clashes between Druze and the Bedouin factions could have only been prevented by the military intervention of Syria’s central government.

Israel is unwilling to see a stable country around itself and aims to divide Syria with the violent unrest in southern Suwayda province, Fidan added.

On July 13, clashes broke out between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups in Suwayda in southern Syria. The situation worsened on July 16 when the Israeli military conducted strikes near the Syrian presidential palace and on the General Staff headquarters and Defense Ministry.

Ankara played a key role in establishing the cease-fire in Syria after Israeli airstrikes targeted the capital, Damascus, as well as Suwayda and Daraa, on the pretext of protecting the Druze community.

Fidan highlighted that the whole international community and regional actors strived for Syria not to become a state hosting terrorism or a state being the source of migration, while Israel sabotages all initiatives for stability and security in Syria.

Fidan said that Türkiye is one of the countries most negatively affected by the regional problems and terrorism in terms of security, and added, “But despite this, while we continue our struggle, we are trying to present stability and goodness as a larger strategic vision. All our relations with Iraq, Syria and Iran are developing in this way.”

Besides Israel, Fidan also warned other groups within Syria not to stoke tensions.

“No group should attempt to divide. We have much to discuss through diplomacy,” he said.

Fidan underlined that Türkiye tries to end all conflicts and wars through diplomatic initiatives and is following the developments in Syria’s south closely.

In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, anti-regime forces seized the Syrian capital, Damascus, and longtime dictator Bashar Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family’s brutal rule in December. Following the fall of the Assad regime and the installation of a new government in Syria, Türkiye pledged support for Damascus and rallied countries to follow suit. Ankara explained to its interlocutors the importance of lifting sanctions and rebuilding the country for refugees in the region, Europe and Türkiye to be able to return.

Türkiye also formed a counterterrorism platform that includes Syria’s neighbors to fight Daesh and thus prevent any future uprising of the terrorist organization through intelligence sharing and joint action.

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Six Daesh suspects were caught by security sources in a counterterrorism operation in Istanbul late Monday.

The Istanbul counterterrorism branch conducted an operation to arrest suspects identified as having links to the Daesh terrorist group and connections to conflict zones.

Six suspects were detained during the operation, and searches yielded numerous digital materials.

During the operations, five foreign nationals identified as having visa violations and lacking identification were taken into custody and handed over to the Provincial Immigration Administration for processing.

The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) thwarted the terrorist group’s efforts for recruitment, obtaining funds and logistics support after its latest operation in the aftermath of a church shooting in Istanbul in January 2024.

Daesh remains the second biggest threat of terrorism for Türkiye, which faces security risks from multiple terrorist groups and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013.

In December last year, Turkish security forces detained 32 suspects over alleged links with Daesh, who were planning attacks on churches and synagogues, as well as the Iraqi Embassy.

Terrorists from Daesh and other groups, such as the PKK and its Syrian wing, the YPG, rely on a network of members and supporters in Türkiye.

Turkish authorities have ordered the freezing of millions of lira worth of assets since 2013 to crack down on terrorism financiers in line with United Nations sanctions.

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Answering journalists’ questions as he was returning from an official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hit out at Israel over the latest developments in Syria’s Suwayda.

In remarks published on Monday, Erdoğan expressed concerns over clashes between local groups in Syria’s Suwayda that have claimed hundreds of lives since last week. “But the bigger strategic problem in the region is Israel’s attempt to invade the region,” Erdoğan said as he lambasted Israeli attacks in Syria under the pretext of assisting the Druze community. He said the Druze factions, as well as others, managed to come together to discuss the truce, but Israel did not favor a united, integrated Syria and continued its provocations.

Regarding the Suwayda clashes and their aftermath, Erdoğan stated that Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa exhibited a strong stance during the developments and made no concessions. “Israel strives to set the entire region on fire, but Syria’s stance cautiously reined in this process. Syria now controls (flash point areas) with 2,5000 soldiers. They are under control. Syria’s south is under control,” Erdoğan said.

Türkiye mobilized after clashes broke out in Suwayda recently and sought to defuse tensions while expressing support for Damascus. A cease-fire took hold on Sunday as Interior Ministry security forces deployed on the outskirts of Suwayda. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said Sunday the truce would allow for the release of hostages and detainees held by the warring sides.

“People of Syria will not fall for such traps, as they learned lessons from their past suffering. Reconciliation is maintained between Druzes and others. al-Sharaa took positive steps,” Erdoğan said.

Regarding a recent phone call with al-Sharaa, Erdoğan said: “We pledged support to them. Our Foreign ministry, the U.S. envoy in Syria, and the U.S. secretary of state are in constant touch regarding Syria. Our intelligence director and defense minister are also holding talks with their counterparts. There have been talks in Amman for the past two days,” he said.

Erdoğan said two branches of the Druze community were unanimous on their stance on the issue, but another branch “acted in unison with Israel and did not compromise.”

“Suwayda is surrounded, and police and troops are on the outskirts of the city. At least, they barred more forces from entering there. All sides except one faction volunteered to maintain a cease-fire. As a matter of fact, there is a constructive atmosphere, Erdoğan said.

The president underlined the necessity of telling the world Israel’s project to destabilize the region. “We are doing this right now. The U.S. is aware that it should act on this matter,” he said.

Erdoğan also spoke about the divided island of Cyprus and reiterated Ankara’s commitment to support Turkish Cypriots. “Türkiye will not be in any process that does not guarantee sovereign equality for Turkish Cypriots,” he said.

“Greek Cypriots don’t want a solution on Cyprus; they want Turkish Cypriots as their pariahs,” he added.

The president stated that he reiterated Türkiye’s support for the TRNC during his visit, particularly concerning the Turkish Cypriot vision of a two-state solution in divided Cyprus.

“We will continue our support to Turkish Cypriot brothers in every field,” he said.

He also answered a question about reports that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides would invite him to southern Cyprus once the latter’s administration took over the rotating presidency of the EU.

“It is out of question for me to visit the south. They don’t recognize the TRNC as a state, so we don’t recognize them as a state,” he said.

Erdoğan stated that the Greek Cypriot side had repeatedly demonstrated that it was not in favor of a solution to the Cyprus question. “Key to the solution is two states, and this cannot be negotiated. Our policy is clear on that matter,” he said.

TRNC President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met in New York at U.N. headquarters for informal talks on the future of the divided island. They were accompanied by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and representatives of the guarantor powers, Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom. The talks, held for the second time this year, did not yield any concrete results, but the two sides agreed on confidence-building measures. Greek Cypriots advocate for the reunification of the island with a bi-communal administrative system, while the TRNC insists on a two-state solution where it will be recognized as a sovereign state.

The president also commented on the terror-free Türkiye initiative to end years of PKK terrorism and said they were cautious against any sabotage attempts to undermine the process.

“We are taking steps to complete our goal of a terror-free Türkiye. We are extremely cautious so that the process would not be affected by provocations,” he said.

“The disarmament has begun, and our colleagues monitor the process. Setting up a parliamentary committee is also in its final stage. Soon, you will see more developments on the issue in Parliament. We are determined to build a terror-free future. We are well aware of what we will do and how we will achieve our goals. Developments in our region show how accurate our steps are,” Erdoğan said.

He noted that PKK ringleader Abdullah Öcalan fully endorsed the process, but the stance of the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, was subject to change.

“It is important to consider how (disarmament) will be reflected in the YPG,” he said. The president said interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s persistence on the integration of the YPG into the Syrian army thwarted the terrorist group’s agenda.

“We will not abandon al-Sharaa. We don’t want Syria to be fragmented,” he said. The YPG controls portions of northeastern Syria through a self-styled autonomous region. The terrorist group recently called for a decentralized Syria in its bid to retain its so-called autonomy, but Damascus flatly rejected it. Erdoğan said the recovery of Syria would be positive for Türkiye.

“Syrians in our country have voluntarily returned (after the fall of the Assad regime). We will continue supporting returns. With more returns, Syria will regain a sense of normalcy, and we will have a more stable southern border,” he said.

On the question of whether a terror-free Türkiye would help Türkiye’s membership bid for the EU, Erdoğan said the EU should not wait “for another day” to revive membership negotiations. The EU has designated the PKK as a terrorist group but largely tolerated supporters of the PKK while criticizing Türkiye’s counterterrorism efforts, claiming human rights violations.

“We tell all our counterparts in the EU that we preserve our full membership goal. Once the bloc adopts a new strategy and vision for this matter, there will be no obstacles. Political barriers against Türkiye should be immediately lifted,” Erdoğan said.

The president called upon EU countries to maintain relations fairly and equitably. “We expect them to understand that relations cannot be enhanced with a hesitant stand. Considering what’s happening near Europe and differences of opinion within the bloc, it is obvious that the EU needs a solution-oriented, dynamic member like Türkiye,” he said, referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that prompted the EU to bolster its defenses.

The EU has recently approved future mechanisms for defense cooperation with non-EU countries, including Türkiye, which maintains good relations with both Ukraine and Russia.

“Türkiye is the last exit for Europe. The world is changing. Europe has already changed. EU can propel itself into the future, into this new era by shedding its old political mindset,” he said.

On the situation in Gaza and the likelihood of a new cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, Erdoğan said the people of Gaza have not surrendered and would not surrender. “Israel, on the other hand, is attacking everywhere like a rabid beast, and Allah willing, it will fall victim to its own aggression,” Erdoğan said.

The president reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to the Palestinian cause and said they would persist in standing with Gaza. “Hamas and Israel have yet to reach full agreement on how humanitarian aid – particularly food – will be distributed. If a 60-day cease-fire is secured and hostages are released, Hamas wants Israel to commit to extending the cease-fire. Israel is resisting this demand. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar, with our support, are trying to find a middle ground. The concern is to avoid a situation where hostages are released, a 60-day cease-fire is achieved, but then everything reverts to the current state once that period ends. If there is no binding mechanism or guarantee of a lasting cease-fire, Hamas will see this only as a choice between dying today or in 60 days. That is why a serious negotiation process is ongoing at this point,” Erdoğan said.

Ankara is on the verge of eliminating the scourge of terrorism, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said late Monday, emphasizing that the terror-free Türkiye initiative is vital for the region.

Yılmaz reiterated that one of the most important agendas of the Century of Türkiye is strengthening internal unity and peace, and added that important developments are also underway in the Middle East, which could be easily exploited by foreign powers.

He indicated that the region has been put into turmoil for years with “artificial ethnic and sectarian movements.”

Speaking to the A Haber TV channel, the vice president highlighted that the terror-free Türkiye process is proceeding as planned.

“The process of a terror-free Türkiye has become a state policy thanks to the work of our relevant institutions, supported by our president. Türkiye has achieved significant success in the fight against terrorism. A very peaceful environment has been established within our borders and significant work has been carried out across the border through various operations and maneuvers. Türkiye is now in the process of being permanently rid of the scourge of terrorism,” he said.

The initiative was launched by government ally Devlet Bahçeli, head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who called on the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to appeal to the PKK to lay down arms last year.

Soon, his call evolved into a new initiative that saw Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmakers visiting Öcalan in the island prison where he is incarcerated in the Marmara Sea. As a result and in a landmark development, the PKK in May announced its dissolution and the end of its four-decade terror campaign that cost tens of thousands of lives in Türkiye, as well as in Iraq and Syria. Most recently, in a ceremony across the border in Iraq this month, PKK members destroyed their weapons as part of the process.

Meanwhile, Bahçeli also spoke on the same issue, saying that “those expecting Türkiye to be divided on ethnic or sectarian grounds will be disappointed with the terror-free Türkiye initiative.”

In a written statement, he said that his party discussed a system where Türkiye could have two vice presidents, one of whom could be an Alevi and the other a Kurd.

Ankara is at the same time also working on legal steps, establishing a parliamentary commission to follow up on the process of the PKK dissolving itself. This committee will make recommendations to the Parliament speaker regarding both administrative and legal regulations.

Parliament entered recess this week, yet some commissions will continue their work.

When asked about the new constitutional work, Yılmaz said that the commission was continuing its work and that the issue was not the work of just one party, and that constitutional work should be carried out with the highest consensus.

The government has been pushing to overhaul Türkiye’s Constitution for over a decade now, which was enforced in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.

‘Stable Syria’

Yılmaz also touched upon the latest developments in Syria, where sectarian violence in southern Syria killed more than 1,260 people.

Ankara played a key role in establishing the cease-fire in Syria after Israeli airstrikes targeted the capital, Damascus, as well as Suwayda and Daraa, on the pretext of protecting the Druze community.

“Our stance on Syria is clear,” Yılmaz said, “we want a stable Syria.”

Yılmaz explained that Israel is committing massacres in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. He added that Israel is not only attacking Palestine, but has also attacked Lebanon, Yemen, and most recently, Iran and that a similar situation is now being seen in Syria.

“As long as Israel considers itself above international law, our entire region is unfortunately under threat. Israel must immediately return to the boundaries of international law, a cease-fire must be established in Gaza, humanitarian aid must reach the oppressed people of Gaza without interruption and a political solution must be developed in our region.”

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Parliament concluded its third legislative year of the 28th term with the passage of 32 laws, including seven related to international agreements. The legislative year, which commenced on Oct. 1, 2024, ended with 113 General Assembly sessions before Parliament entered recess on July 22, set to reconvene on Oct. 1.

According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency (AA), the year was marked by a series of major legislative changes. Among the most prominent was a law raising the minimum pension to TL 16,881 ($417.63) as of July and increasing holiday bonuses for retirees to TL 4,000. Parliament also adopted significant reforms, including the Climate Law, the Teaching Profession Law, and two wide-ranging judicial reform packages, known to the public as the 9th and 10th judicial packages.

Other major legislative actions included the Cybersecurity Law, amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Currency, and new penalties for unauthorized use of emergency lights and crimes involving firearms. The final legislative session saw the adoption of a package amending various health-related laws as well as the ratification of three international agreements.

The annual budget process began with a presentation by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to the Planning and Budget Committee on Oct. 22. It concluded with the General Assembly’s approval of the 2025 Central Government Budget Law and the 2023 Final Account Law on Dec. 21.

In total, 822 draft laws were submitted by lawmakers during the legislative year, and 45 parliamentary resolutions were adopted. These included three presidential mandates authorizing deployments of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) abroad. Additionally, Parliament passed three memoranda from the Office of the Speaker regarding regional crises: the terrorist attack targeting TUSAŞ, the escalation involving Israel and Iran, and Israeli military actions in Syria.

Seven parliamentary inquiry commissions were established during the year. These focused on a diverse range of issues, including artificial intelligence, the prevention of violence and neglect against children, gender-based violence, infant mortality rates, the Kartalkaya hotel fire, frost damage in agriculture, and the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.

Deputies also filed 13,674 written parliamentary questions addressed to ministers and the parliamentary leadership, of which 6,893 received formal responses.

On June 3, the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) Numan Kurtulmuş was reelected as Parliament speaker with 329 votes in the third round of voting. On June 12, the General Assembly also elected deputy speakers and members of the presidency council and standing committees. The newly elected deputy speakers are Bekir Bozdağ from the AK Party, Tekin Bingöl from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Celal Adan from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Pervin Buldan from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).

Elections also led to leadership changes in several key parliamentary committees, including the Constitutional Commission, the Digital Media Commission, and the National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Commission.

The legislative year also marked the passing of Deputy Speaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder on May 3, 2025, bringing his parliamentary term to a close.

With a packed legislative agenda behind it, Parliament now prepares to resume its work on Oct. 1, 2025, at the start of the fourth legislative year.

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