Provincial chairs of the Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Antalya and Kayseri were expelled from office on Tuesday. They are the latest casualties of the new administration at the party led by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Kılıçdaroğlu, reinstated to the office by a court verdict last month, has pledged to cleanse the party of corruption and shady dealings. Along with those reportedly involved in scandals, Kılıçdaroğlu also moved to fire top figures supporting his predecessor, Özgür Özel.

The party announced a reshuffle after an administrative board meeting at the headquarters, around the same time Özgür Özel, now as parliamentary group chair of the party, addressed a parliamentary meeting and called Kılıçdaroğlu to hold an intra-party election.

Almost a dozen provincial chairs were removed from office or stepped down on their own after Kılıçdaroğlu took office. Among them was Çağatay Güç, chair for the branch in Izmir, a CHP stronghold. His predecessor, Utku Gümrükçü, had to confront supporters of Güç on Monday to take office as the protests against the new administration mounted.

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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Tuesday rejected the unrealistic proposals regarding the future of the island, reaffirming that Türkiye’s effective and active guarantorship remains indispensable for the Turkish Cypriot people.

In a written statement addressing recent discussions over possible settlement models and renewed negotiations on the divided island, Ertuğruloğlu accused the Greek Cypriot side of promoting what he called “unrealistic scenarios” aimed at shaping public perception.

He argued that claims of a new formula for resolving the Cyprus issue reflected the failure of alternative approaches and warned against expectations built around proposals that, in his view, lack a realistic political foundation.

Ertuğruloğlu also criticized suggestions that territorial concessions by the Turkish Cypriot side could lead to partial international recognition, saying such proposals would undermine the constitutional and territorial integrity of the TRNC.

Addressing security arrangements, the foreign minister strongly rejected reports suggesting that Türkiye’s guarantor role could be replaced by a NATO-backed security mechanism.

“Türkiye’s guarantorship is indispensable for the Turkish Cypriot people and remains a red line,” Ertuğruloğlu said, adding that alternative guarantees would not provide the same level of security or legitimacy.

The minister questioned why new negotiation scenarios were being discussed despite the conclusion of recent informal meetings on Cyprus. He noted that meetings held in the 5+1 format in 2021 and 2025 produced a shared assessment that there was currently no common ground for launching formal negotiations.

Ertuğruloğlu further argued that key issues remain unresolved, including the Turkish Cypriots’ political and economic isolation, the status of sovereign equality between the two sides, and the Greek Cypriot administration’s claim to represent the entire island internationally.

Reiterating the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s long-standing position, Ertuğruloğlu stressed that the future of Cyprus should be based on cooperation between two sovereign and equal states rather than the creation of a new partnership structure.

“The only realistic solution to the Cyprus issue is a relationship built on sovereign equality and good-neighborly relations between two states,” he said.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the agreement reached between Iran and the United States during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirming Türkiye’s support for efforts aimed at securing a peaceful outcome and urging vigilance against attempts to undermine the negotiation process, the Communications Directorate said.

During the call, Erdoğan said the agreement reached between Iran and the United States was a positive development and reiterated that Türkiye was ready to provide any support necessary to help ensure the process concludes peacefully.

The president also stressed the importance of remaining alert to actors seeking to sabotage the negotiations, emphasizing the need to preserve the momentum toward a lasting resolution.

In a separate phone call, President Erdoğan spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to discuss bilateral ties, as well as regional and global developments.

Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s desire to further strengthen relations with Iraq in the coming period, highlighting significant opportunities for cooperation in energy, the defense industry and transportation. He also invited al-Zaidi to visit Türkiye for comprehensive consultations on advancing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Türkiye has consistently advocated diplomacy and dialogue as the preferred means of addressing regional disputes and has expressed support for efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East.

The U.S. and Iran shared cautious optimism Monday following the first round of peace talks in Switzerland, with Vice President JD Vance calling the discussions a “good foundation” for ending the war and the Iranian president praising the degree of consensus reached.

The negotiators aim to tackle some of the most intractable issues that have dogged U.S.-Iranian relations for decades, including Tehran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium.

Under the terms of last week’s preliminary deal, released by U.S. officials, Iran will dilute its enriched uranium stocks, possibly by “down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA”, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.

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Two Turkish citizens were injured in a drone attack targeting a Turkish-owned, Panama-flagged vessel off the coast of Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port on Monday, according to a statement by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministry said the injured crew members are being closely monitored by Türkiye’s Embassy in Kyiv and its Consulate General in Odesa.

In its statement, the ministry expressed concern over attacks in the Black Sea that threaten Türkiye’s interests and regional security as a result of the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Türkiye has conveyed its discomfort regarding attacks that threaten our interests and regional security in the Black Sea to the authorities of both countries,” the ministry said.

The ministry stressed that ensuring the safety of civilian maritime navigation in the Black Sea remains one of Türkiye’s key priorities and called on all parties to take steps to reduce tensions in the region.

The incident comes amid continued security risks to commercial shipping routes in the Black Sea, where attacks linked to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have periodically disrupted maritime traffic and raised concerns over the safety of civilian vessels.

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Preparations are intensifying in Türkiye’s capital ahead of the NATO Summit scheduled for July 7-8, with authorities implementing extensive security measures, infrastructure upgrades and temporary restrictions across the city.

Teams have accelerated road maintenance, landscaping and security-related works along key routes expected to be used by visiting heads of state, government officials and delegations attending the alliance’s annual gathering.

Road crews have been repaving sections of the route connecting Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport to the city center, while new pedestrian safety barriers are being installed along major thoroughfares. Several buildings located on protocol routes are undergoing facade renovations, and visual barriers have been erected in some areas to improve the appearance of key corridors ahead of the summit.

The preparations come as Türkiye gets ready to host one of NATO’s most significant diplomatic events, bringing together leaders and senior officials from member states amid ongoing discussions on regional security, defense cooperation and global challenges.

Meanwhile, Ankara authorities announced a series of security measures aimed at ensuring the smooth conduct of the summit and maintaining public order.

In a statement, the Ankara Governor’s Office said restrictions would be in place between June 28 and July 10, covering a wide range of public activities throughout the capital.

The statement noted that authorities had taken necessary precautions to safeguard summit venues, accommodation facilities designated for delegations and official transit routes.

Access by unauthorized individuals and vehicles to designated sensitive areas will be restricted during the event, according to the governor’s office.

Authorities also announced a ban on all drone flights within Ankara’s airspace during the period unless special permission is granted by the governor’s office.

In addition, public gatherings and demonstrations, including marches, press statements, sit-ins, hunger strikes, protests, rallies, the establishment of stands or tents, and the distribution of leaflets, brochures and banners, will be prohibited from midnight on June 28 until 11:59 p.m. on July 10.

Officials said the measures were introduced to ensure public safety, protect visiting delegations and maintain order as Ankara hosts the high-profile NATO gathering next month.

On the other hand, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated the newly modernized Ankara Airport last Monday, saying 2026 was shaping up to be a “year of summits” for Türkiye.

The former Etimesgut Air Base, which underwent a comprehensive modernization program, has been reopened as Ankara Airport and will serve both domestic and international operations.

The airport is expected to reduce pressure on the capital’s key hub, Esenboğa Airport, during major international events and high-level visits and ease congestion on its road network.

“2026 continues to be a year of summits for Türkiye, a country striving to reach the top in every field,” Erdoğan said at the inauguration ceremony.

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The ruling People’s Alliance’s candidate for the next presidential election remains President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesman Ömer Çelik said Monday, welcoming remarks by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahçeli and dismissing speculation surrounding an early vote.

Speaking after a meeting of AK Party’s Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK), chaired by Erdoğan, Çelik said the party’s position on the next presidential election was clear.

“For the AK Party, our presidential candidate is President Erdoğan,” Çelik said, adding that all authorized party bodies had maintained a firm and consistent stance on the matter.

Çelik welcomed Bahçeli’s recent remarks that “our president is on duty and we stand behind him,” describing them as an important demonstration of the People’s Alliance’s unity and determination regarding Erdoğan’s candidacy.

The AK Party spokesman also outlined an extensive political agenda in the coming months, including preparations for the party’s consultation camp in Sapanca, the NATO summit, July 15 commemoration events, COP31 climate talks and the party’s anniversary celebrations.

Addressing regional developments, Çelik said the recent agreement between Iran and the United States offered an opportunity for tensions to ease but warned that the process remained fragile. He argued that efforts toward a lasting peace could be undermined by what he described as Israeli aggression and called for strong international support for diplomacy during the 60-day negotiation period.

Çelik also said work on the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative was continuing and had entered a new legislative phase. He stated that a legal framework aimed at ensuring the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK/KCK’s armed and illegal structures would soon be debated in Parliament.

According to Çelik, the process would be considered complete only after state institutions verify that the group has laid down its arms and the determination is approved by the National Security Council, followed by a presidential decision.

He called on all political parties and social actors to contribute to the process, arguing that Türkiye possesses the institutional capacity and political experience needed to achieve its “Terror-Free Türkiye” and “Terror-Free Region” goals.

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