Politics
Turkish mediator Fidan highlights US, Iran flexible on nuclear deal
Speaking to the Financial Times in an interview published on Thursday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the U.S. and Iran are showing flexibility on a nuclear deal, with Washington appearing “willing” to tolerate some nuclear enrichment.
“It is positive that the Americans appear willing to tolerate Iranian enrichment within clearly set boundaries,” Fidan, who has been involved in talks with both Washington and Tehran, told the FT.
“The Iranians now recognize that they need to reach a deal with the Americans, and the Americans understand that the Iranians have certain limits. It’s pointless to try to force them.”
Washington has until now demanded Iran relinquish its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran would continue to demand the lifting of financial sanctions and insist on its nuclear rights, including enrichment.
Fidan told the FT he believed Tehran “genuinely wants to reach a real agreement” and would accept restrictions on enrichment levels and a strict inspection regime, as it did in the 2015 agreement with the U.S. and others. U.S. and Iranian diplomats held talks through Omani mediators in Oman last week in an effort to revive diplomacy, after President Donald Trump positioned a naval flotilla in the region, raising fears of new military action. Trump on Tuesday said he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, even as Washington and Tehran prepared to resume negotiations.
The Turkish foreign minister, however, cautioned that broadening the Iran-U.S. talks to ballistic missiles would bring “nothing but another war.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye and Greece remain committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation as both neighbors pursue a more stable phase in bilateral ties, noting that issues are solvable.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Erdoğan noted that the two sides must keep communication channels open “as neighboring allies are committed to cooperation.”
Erdoğan said he conveyed to Mitsotakis Türkiye’s expectation that the Turkish minority in Western Thrace fully benefit from their religious freedoms and educational rights, calling these protections the “human dimension” of relations that must be safeguarded with historic responsibility. He added that while longstanding disputes in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean are complex, they are “not unsolvable” within the framework of international law, and said the two leaders share a common view that diplomacy is the most constructive path forward.
Erdoğan said he and Mitsotakis held frank discussions on the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, stressing that goodwill, constructive dialogue and a clear will to resolve disputes are essential.
“I was pleased to see that my dear friend Kyriakos and I agree on this,” he said, expressing confidence that the positive momentum since 2023 can help both sides make progress on interconnected issues.
The Turkish president also said he reiterated Ankara’s expectations on combating terrorism and organized crime, and highlighted the need to address minority-rights issues with historic sensitivity.
“We must act with an awareness of our responsibility toward minorities, who form the human dimension of our relations,” he said.
During the talks, Erdoğan emphasized that high-level contacts have provided “a conducive environment” for progress and said he hopes the agreements signed earlier in the day will further consolidate the legal foundation of bilateral ties. He noted that Türkiye aims to raise its trade volume with Greece from roughly $7 billion last year to $10 billion.
Business councils from both countries also met to explore new economic opportunities, he said.
Mitsotakis received a warm welcome in Ankara as the two sides convened the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council. Both governments say they want to leave behind years of strained ties and focus on a positive agenda. Last month, diplomats met in Athens to advance this track, as the neighbors work to ease friction over contested maritime boundaries and airspace in the Aegean.
Athens and Ankara have tried to overcome their differences in recent years, leaving behind a troubled past. Last month, diplomats from the two countries came together in the Greek capital for a “positive agenda” meeting.
Tensions have flared intermittently in recent years between the historic rivals, who remain divided over where their continental shelves begin and end in the Aegean, an area believed to hold significant energy potential and linked to disputes over airspace and overflights.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received a Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) delegation, including Turkish Parliament Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan and Van lawmaker Mithat Sancar, at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Wednesday.
In a written statement released after the meeting, the delegation said discussions focused on recent developments in the region and their implications for Türkiye’s domestic political climate and the broader peace process.
“The determination to continue the process was once again mutually reaffirmed,” the statement said.
The delegation emphasized the need for concrete and confidence-building steps in the process, calling on Parliament, relevant ministries and public institutions to intensify their efforts.
It also highlighted the importance of preparing a report by the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission with an inclusive approach that would provide a solid foundation for democratization and expanded freedoms as part of the terror-free initiative.
The commission was formed in August to tackle the terror-free Türkiye initiative for the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group. It is expected to lay out a road map to Parliament for legislative or other regulations for the next stage of the initiative. The PKK’s disarmament has been a unilateral process, but political parties participating in the committee suggested that new regulations may be enacted to facilitate the process, especially lenient sentencing for PKK members not involved in acts of terrorism.
The statement also underlined the necessity of establishing a comprehensive legal framework without delay and through the broadest possible consensus, arguing that such a framework would serve as a cornerstone for Türkiye’s democratic future and ensure participation from all segments of society.
The delegation said it believes the meeting, held at a time of significant global and regional political developments, would contribute to peaceful coexistence in Türkiye and the wider region. It thanked President Erdoğan for receiving the delegation.
National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairperson Efkan Ala also attended the meeting.
Authorities in Germany arrested two men suspected of connections to the PKK terrorist group and confiscated several illegal firearms and a significant quantity of drugs, local media reported Thursday.
According to Bild daily, the investigation began when police officers in the eastern city of Leipzig stopped a taxi during a routine traffic check on Saturday evening.
The passenger, identified as 23-year-old Numan K., attempted to flee but was apprehended. Officers found five unregistered 9 mm pistols with ammunition in his bag.
Authorities then searched an apartment shared by Numan K. and a second suspect, 56-year-old Metin B., where they discovered additional unregistered weapons and more than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine, according to the report.
Authorities were investigating the suspects’ ties to the terrorist group PKK and whether they may have been planning terror attacks, particularly in light of Metin B.’s recent social media posts supporting the PKK and its affiliate, the YPG, in northeastern Syria.
German authorities estimate that the PKK and the YPG have more than 15,000 active followers in the country, many of them pursuing extensive propaganda activities among the Kurdish immigrant population. Germany banned the PKK in 1993. Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, classifies it as an ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist organization.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that it was time for Syria to spend time on the welfare of its people, as he hailed a deal between Damascus and the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG while speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting in the capital Ankara.
Erdoğan said Türkiye was closely following the developments on the ground and warned that the current process should not be disrupted.
“We will not abandon our Syrian brothers and sisters until joy prevails in Hassakeh, Qamishli, Ain al-Arab,” he stressed, referring to Syrian provinces occupied by the terrorist group that Syrian security forces recently entered under the new deal.
He also stressed the need for cooperation among the country’s diverse communities after decades of conflict, noting that the outlines of a long-term settlement are becoming clearer and cautioning parties against repeating past mistakes.
“The road map for lasting peace in Syria has been set; parties must avoid miscalculations, repeating past mistakes or poisoning the process with maximalist demands,” said Erdoğan.
Highlighting the human cost of the war, Erdoğan added: “Every drop of blood shed breaks our hearts, regardless of whether it is Arab, Turkmen, Kurd, or Nusayri; every life lost in Syria feels like losing a part of ourselves.”
He also called for a shift toward reconstruction and economic recovery. “It is time for Syria’s resources and above- and below-ground wealth to be used for the prosperity of all sectors of society, not for digging tunnels under cities,” he said.
Addressing regional concerns, Erdoğan rejected claims that Türkiye seeks dominance, saying: “Türkiye is not seeking influence in the region and has no desire to shape other countries; on the contrary, we sincerely seek fellowship.”
He also welcomed what he described as shared sensitivities with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan on Syria’s future, saying Türkiye would work together with those countries to support stability in the country.
Reaffirming Ankara’s long-standing position on the Syrian crisis, he stressed that violence only breeds further violence and warned against actions that could undermine emerging progress.
The president underlined the importance of implementing the Jan. 18 and Jan. 30 agreements on the basis of “one army, one state, one Syria,” saying the framework for permanent peace and stability has become clearer.
He also said Türkiye had witnessed what he called sincere efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to rebuild the country, noting that recent operations had generated both support for the new administration and high expectations among locals.
Erdoğan voiced confidence that the Syrian government would ensure broad political participation and rapidly implement an effective development plan, adding that Türkiye would continue closely monitoring developments in Syria, with which it shares its longest land border.
Erdoğan also said that during recent operations in Syria, he ordered the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Turkish Red Crescent and humanitarian groups to mobilize rapidly, sending truckloads of aid supplies, in coordination with the Syrian government, to Kurdish-populated areas in an initial phase.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that some Iraqi media outlets misrepresented Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent remarks, reiterating Ankara’s commitment to Iraq’s territorial integrity and continued cooperation with Baghdad on security and counterterrorism.
Fidan’s comments, made during an interview, had been taken out of context, ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli’s statement stressed.
“It appears that certain statements made by H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, during an interview on a television channel on Feb. 9, 2026 have been distorted by some media outlets in Iraq,” the statement said.
It emphasized that Türkiye has established institutional, constructive, and productive cooperation with Iraq in almost all fields, including security and counterterrorism, and aims to further advance this cooperation in the period ahead.
“The statements made by Minister Fidan in the aforementioned interview, based on this understanding of cooperation, are intended to draw attention to the threat posed to Iraq’s territorial integrity and security by the PKK terrorist organization, which has established itself in parts of Iraqi territory, particularly in Sinjar, Makhmur, and Qandil,” it added.
In this context, it said, Fidan highlighted Türkiye’s determination to ensure the complete eradication of the terrorist organization from Iraqi territory, as in Syria, and the necessity of sustaining and further strengthening existing cooperation with the Iraqi administration in this field.
“We therefore reject the distortion of Minister Fidan’s statements by certain circles, taken out of context and portrayed as interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” the statement said.
It also reiterated Ankara’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is facing mounting internal turmoil after a wave of resignations by mayors and municipal council members over the past two years.
According to a report in Turkish newspaper Sabah, since the last local elections in March 2024, 30 mayors have parted ways with the party following disagreements with the leadership, while 66 municipal council members have also resigned, according to party figures. Some of the departing mayors chose to remain independent, while others joined rival parties.
The latest resignation came from Mesut Özarslan, mayor of Ankara district Keçiören, who left the party along with seven municipal council members. His departure marked the newest chapter in what critics describe as an ongoing crisis within CHP-run municipalities.
Ahead of the 2024 local elections, CHP leader Özgür Özel said the party had benefited from artificial intelligence tools in determining candidates, remarks that drew public attention at the time. Following the recent resignations, those comments have resurfaced in criticism of the party’s candidate selection process.
Among the high-profile departures discussed publicly were Aydın Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, Beykoz Deputy Mayor Özlem Vural Gürzel, Şehitkamil Mayor Umut Yılmaz and Karkamış Mayor Mustafa Güzel.
Resigning officials have cited pressure from the party’s headquarters as a key reason for their decisions. Critics argue that the leadership has adopted a strict stance toward dissenting voices and shown little tolerance for internal criticism, contributing to fractures at the local level.
Tensions escalated further after Malatya’s Yazıhan Mayor Abdulvahap Göçer was referred to the party’s disciplinary board following critical remarks. Göçer called for the party to rid itself of corruption and alleged misconduct, claims that intensified internal debate.
Since taking office after the party’s contentious 2023 congress, Özel and his leadership team have faced scrutiny over disciplinary measures targeting members who call for investigations into alleged irregularities. In 2025, hundreds of party members were reportedly referred to disciplinary proceedings, with several prominent figures expelled.
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