Politics
Türkiye leads diplomatic push as US, Israel, Iran conflict escalates
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a series of diplomatic contacts, meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Ankara Tuesday and speaking with several regional and international counterparts about recent developments in the region, officials said.
Fidan met with U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Ankara, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and officials released a photograph of the encounter but did not disclose further details.
In separate phone calls, Fidan also spoke with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Nechirvan Barzani, the head of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, on the same day.
According to diplomatic sources, the conversations focused on the latest regional developments and ongoing political and security dynamics regarding the U.S-Israel’s attacks on Iran.
Fidan also held a phone call with British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, during which the two discussed the current security environment in the region.
Officials said the talks addressed diplomatic efforts that could help end ongoing conflicts and promote regional stability.
The large-scale assault by the United States and Israel began Saturday, targeting multiple Iranian military and political sites and killing several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military commanders, according to Iranian and regional reports.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society said Tuesday that at least 787 people have been killed in ongoing Israeli-U.S. attacks on Iran since the war started.
The aid organization said on its Telegram channel that strikes had hit 153 cities across the country and that more than 3,600 emergency responders had been deployed nationwide.
In response, Tehran has launched drone and missile attacks against Israel as well as Gulf countries that host U.S. assets, striking or attempting to strike bases and facilities linked to American forces.
The strikes and retaliatory fire continue to push the region toward a wider war.
Türkiye has intensified diplomatic contacts with regional and international partners in recent weeks as tensions and security concerns continue in parts of the Middle East and surrounding regions.
The Foreign Ministry led the diplomatic efforts since the first day of the war, discussing the latest developments and possible steps to halt the attacks.
On Feb. 28, Fidan spoke with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
In a separate call with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Fidan discussed the rising tensions and ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at halting the conflict.
On March 1, the minister spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to exchange views on the latest situation in Iran. The same day, he also held a call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi regarding diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
On March 2, Fidan spoke with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov about initiatives to end the regional clashes. He also held a call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky, during which the two discussed the broader impact of the conflict.
Later the same day, he spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, discussing recent developments in the region and potential steps to reduce tensions and stop the attacks.
Fidan also spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on March 2, with the two discussing the latest political, security and humanitarian developments in the region, as well as possible diplomatic steps to reduce tensions and end the attacks.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday also stated that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın had contacts with their counterparts and Türkiye was closely watching the developments.
“We have no problems regarding our border security and the security of our airspace. Our troops, police and intelligence took top-level measures. We hope to manage this process successfully with a policy prioritizing the security of our country and our nation. Simultaneously, we will accelerate our diplomatic efforts, first to secure a cease-fire and then for a return to the negotiation table. Until these difficult days are behind us, our state and nation will stand with all brotherly nations in the region,” he said.
On Jan. 30, Türkiye hosted Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, in Istanbul. Fidan said intense Turkish diplomacy produced a format for renewed talks. Washington had been pushing to resolve four issues simultaneously, while Iran rejected the approach. Türkiye proposed splitting the agenda: two issues would be discussed directly between Washington and Tehran, and two would be addressed by regional countries.
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate denied Wednesday the claims circulating on social media that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would become a legitimate target for Türkiye if it attacked Iran.
The Directorate’s Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) said in a statement posted on its official social media accounts that the allegations were false and not based on any official statement by Turkish authorities.
“There has been no statement or assessment by the official institutions of the Republic of Türkiye suggesting such a position,” the statement noted.
The center added that Türkiye’s policy focuses on reducing regional tensions and promoting stability through diplomacy and dialogue rather than escalation.
The statement underlined, “Türkiye advocates a stance that prioritizes the preservation of peace and stability on the basis of diplomacy, dialogue and international law.”
Officials also urged the public to rely only on information released by official institutions when evaluating such claims.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated several times that preserving stability in Iran and across the wider region is critical, emphasizing that Türkiye is working intensively to ensure calm and helping reestablish a diplomatic track.
Ankara has engaged in intensive diplomacy over the past four days following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
A ballistic projectile fired from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.
In a written statement, the ministry said the ballistic munition was detected after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was engaged in time before posing a direct threat to Turkish territory.
Debris found in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province was identified as belonging to air defense munitions used during the interception, the ministry said. Officials added that no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
“A ballistic munition fired from Iran and detected heading toward Turkish airspace after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace was engaged and neutralized in time by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the statement said.
Moreover, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran published a statement posted on social media noting relevant institutions were monitoring the situation in real time and operating in full coordination.
“Our determination and capacity to ensure the security of our country and our nation are at the highest level,” Duran said, adding that Türkiye would take all necessary measures to defend its territory and airspace.
Duran said Ankara would respond to any hostile acts within the framework of international law and would continue consultations and cooperation with NATO and allied countries.
He also urged media outlets and social media users to act responsibly and avoid sharing unverified information that could cause public panic.
Türkiye continues to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting stability in the region, Duran said.
Turkish authorities have detained 184 suspects, arresting 22 in nationwide operations targeting the Daesh terrorist group, the Interior Ministry announced Wednesday.
According to a statement shared on the ministry’s social media accounts, the arrests were carried out during coordinated operations conducted over the past two weeks across 35 provinces including Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Eskişehir.
The suspects were identified as individuals who previously operated within Daesh, were wanted on various charges, or were found to have provided financial support to the group.
The operations were coordinated by the Interior Ministry along with the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the General Directorate of Security’s Intelligence Department, the Counterterrorism Department and local chief public prosecutors’ offices.
Authorities said 22 of the suspects have been formally arrested by courts, while judicial control measures were imposed on 33 others.
Legal procedures for the remaining detainees are ongoing.
During the raids, security forces also seized eight unlicensed handguns, one shotgun and numerous digital materials and documents linked to the terrorist group.
Officials said counterterrorism operations targeting Daesh networks and financing structures will continue across the country.
The statement also praised the efforts of the relevant departments, the MIT, public prosecutors’ offices and police officers involved in the operations.
Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace, as the group faces nationwide raids, and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013
On Dec. 29, 2025, three police officers were killed as they raided a house in Yalova in northwestern Türkiye, where Daesh members were hiding. Six Daesh members were killed in the shootout.
The indictment on the incident says six men killed in the shootout were linked to other Daesh suspects who plotted to kill Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Yalova official Umut Güçlü. Security forces have arrested 66 people in operations against Daesh after the deadly shootout. The indictment says four among six killed Daesh terrorists were siblings and they also planned to kill their father, whom they declared an “infidel.”
The head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries visited exhibition and experience areas set up at the Presidential Complex in Ankara as part of Ramadan-themed public events highlighting the country’s technological achievements.
Haluk Görgün toured the displays during the “Ramadan at the Presidential Complex” program, where he met with children and young visitors and emphasized Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative, according to a statement from the Presidency of Defense Industries.
Görgün said this year’s events were organized with a broader program combining the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan with culture, arts, science and technology. He also expressed satisfaction with the strong interest shown by families and young people attending the activities.
He said the exhibition areas allow visitors, particularly students, to observe the achievements of Türkiye’s defense industry and learn about national technological projects.
“Young people are introduced to the National Technology Initiative and the National Space Program in areas prepared with the contributions of institutions such as ASELSAN and TUSAŞ,” Görgün said. “Through simulator experiences, our children can feel technology more closely. Their curiosity turns into knowledge and their excitement into goals.”
The event features interactive activities, including the KAAN fighter jet simulator, helicopter flight simulators, a museum on the history of scientific inventions, wooden rocket-building workshops, and exhibitions on directed energy systems.
Officials said the events will remain open to visitors throughout the month of Ramadan.
The Turkish defense industry, widely recognized worldwide, conducted studies to address new needs emerging on the battlefield and in future combat environments, while also enhancing the capabilities of existing products throughout 2025.
KAAN is a fifth-generation warplane that Türkiye has worked on for almost a decade. The jet was first publicly unveiled in 2023 before it performed its maiden test flight in early 2024. Its serial production is expected to begin in 2028.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed that escalating regional conflicts underscore the urgent need for meaningful diplomacy, telling NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that lasting peace will depend on giving dialogue real space to work.
In a statement, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Erdoğan stressed that Ankara is closely monitoring the growing instability across the region and believes diplomacy must be prioritized to prevent further escalation.
The discussions come as Türkiye emphasizes the need for dialogue in the face of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which have escalated regional tensions.
He also highlighted preparations for the upcoming NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, saying Türkiye is ready to host the gathering and expects productive outcomes at a time when the alliance faces mounting security challenges.
Rutte said NATO will continue working to ensure the security of all member states through a 360-degree approach, according to the statement.
The conversation comes as multiple crises strain Euro-Atlantic security, prompting calls within the alliance for stronger coordination and a renewed focus on diplomatic solutions.
“Türkiye remains focused on peace, stability and diplomacy,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said as he urged for peace to prevail in the region stuck between the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran.
Speaking at an event in Ankara on Tuesday, the president stated: “While events are unfolding in every corner of our geography, as Türkiye, we are resolutely continuing our efforts centered on peace, tranquility and stability.” He added, “Through the peace-oriented diplomacy we are conducting intense efforts to ensure that problems are resolved at the negotiating table through dialogue and negotiations in a fair and equitable manner.”
He outlined that Ankara has mobilized all available means to help the region emerge from the crisis “without further bloodshed and without deepening hostility among brotherly nations.”
Echoing the president, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also on Monday warned that escalating hostilities involving Iran could spiral into a broader regional conflict, disrupt global energy supplies and destabilize financial markets, as Ankara intensifies diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting and return to negotiations.
Speaking at an iftar dinner with Ankara representatives of media organizations, Fidan said preserving stability in Iran and across the wider region is “critical,” stressing that Türkiye is working intensively to ensure calm and helping reestablish a diplomatic track.
Fidan said recent developments risk undermining both the future of the region and global stability.
Türkiye, he emphasized, is pursuing creative diplomatic initiatives and has previously helped delay the outbreak of war. “The war would have started earlier; we delayed it somewhat with our efforts,” he said, adding that the conflict resumed in the midst of negotiations, which Iranian officials have characterized as a betrayal of diplomacy.
Asked whether retaliation by Iran against targets in the region could include Türkiye, Fidan said Ankara always maintains the will and capability to defend itself, regardless of the specific context.
He described the worst-case scenario as a prolonged escalation drawing Iran and the broader region into sustained instability. The crisis, he added, must be examined through multiple lenses: military, security, political, economic and energy.
On the energy front, Fidan warned that any interruption of natural gas flows from Iran or major disruptions to imports from Gulf countries could pose significant risks to global energy security. He also pointed to the Strait of Hormuz as a potential flashpoint. Closure of the strategic waterway, he said, could cause serious turbulence in global financial and energy markets and might compel outside powers to seek a rapid resolution.
Fidan cautioned that if Iran were to directly target U.S. bases located in Arab countries, the risk of a broader regional security crisis would increase. At the same time, he said Tehran appears to be attempting to “generate costs” by striking energy-related targets in the Gulf. However, he suggested that Iran may not receive the external pressure on Washington that it expects from such actions.
“Iran can seriously harass Israel if it uses its missiles and drones effectively,” Fidan noted, adding that the duration and intensity of such exchanges remain uncertain.
Türkiye takes precautions
Fidan said Ankara is closely monitoring movements among various groups in the region and assessing how evolving dynamics might affect local ethnic balances and security calculations. He reiterated that Türkiye’s goal of a “terror-free Türkiye” is linked to achieving a “terror-free region,” encompassing developments in Syria, Iraq and Iran.
He stressed that meaningful steps toward eliminating terrorism require changes in the broader regional equation and that Türkiye continues to evaluate political developments domestically alongside external risks.
Ankara is also in contact with Oman and the United States, while Gulf states face what he called a serious situation. In parallel, Ankara is monitoring the safety of Turkish citizens in the region.
Fidan also announced that approximately 20,000 Turkish nationals, including dual citizens, are in Iran. So far, no Turkish citizen has been killed or injured. Türkiye’s three border crossings with Iran remain operational, allowing Turkish and third-country nationals to enter without major problems.
The Foreign Ministry’s consular call center, embassies and consulates are operating around the clock, he said. Around 1,500 citizens have sought information. Airspace closures have complicated travel for some Turks returning from the Gulf, though Saudi Arabia has reopened its airspace, enabling return flights via Riyadh and Jeddah.
Addressing the possibility of a migration wave from Iran, he said contingency planning has been coordinated with the Interior Ministry, disaster management authorities and intelligence services. At present, he said, Iran is not allowing its citizens to leave via the border, and no influx into Türkiye is occurring.
Proceeding diplomacy traffic
Ankara has engaged in intensive shuttle diplomacy over the past three days following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, holding a series of phone calls with regional and European counterparts to push for de-escalation.
After the attacks began on Feb. 28, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with his counterparts from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Egypt and Indonesia to discuss the latest developments and possible steps to halt the fighting.
He also held separate calls the same day with the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Spain and Hungary to address the escalating violence.
Additional calls followed with Iran, Oman, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, France and Jordan’s foreign ministers.
European leaders have been in close contact, Fidan said, noting calls from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, French officials, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s counterparts and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
On the other hand, responding to questions about the possibility of Iran targeting the island of Cyprus, Fidan said he sees limited risk at present for both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the island’s south, particularly regarding civilian facilities.
Fidan also warned that the conflict could negatively affect Gaza, where Israel has reportedly halted entry and exit. He said Ankara continues to provide humanitarian assistance and remains ready to support diplomatic platforms aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue.
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