Politics
Türkiye urges citizens abroad to check security notices amid Iran-US war
Öncü Keçeli, the spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Turkish diplomatic missions in the region remained open amid the “latest developments,” referring to the conflict that broke out on Saturday when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in the region as well as Israel.
Keçeli said in a social media post on Sunday that they were monitoring the developments for safety of Turkish citizens abroad. “Notices about the state of security are being updated regularly in coordination with local authorities. It is important that the citizens followed notifications issued by our embassies and consulates. Emergency hotlines of our missions are active around the clock. Citizens can have access to communication information of our embassies and consulates via their websites and consulate call center of our ministry is available for all citizens,” he added.
Türkiye has completed all preparations to protect Turkish citizens, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. All flights to the region have been canceled, although Türkiye’s three border crossings with Iran remain open, the sources said on Saturday.
Türkiye is Iran’s western neighbor and maintains close ties with the country. It also hosts a sizeable expat community from Iran and a popular destination for Iranian tourists. U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran did not trigger any influx of people fleeing from Iran into Türkiye so far. The country is also on alert for safety of its citizens, particularly in the Gulf countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is popular both for Turkish expats and tourists.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an umbrella body of parliaments from around the world, will hold its 152nd Assembly in Istanbul between April 15 and April 19. Some 100 parliamentary speakers and a large number of lawmakers are expected to participate in the summit, which will be hosted by the Turkish Parliament.
The IPU, based in Geneva, holds semiannual assemblies in the spring and the fall, either in Geneva or elsewhere. The assembly will be an occasion where strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and multilateral cooperation will be discussed. The lawmakers will also discuss the genocide in Gaza, developments in the Middle East, and a number of regional and global issues.
The theme of the summit will be “nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations” and it will host several events, including permanent committee meetings, the fora and several side events. The IPU will also elect its next secretary-general as incumbent Martin Chungong’s tenure will expire.
Founded in 1889 by parliamentary representatives to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation and dialogue, the IPU now stands out as the umbrella organization of the world’s parliaments, with 183 member countries.
Türkiye, which hosted General Assembly meetings in 1934 and 1951 and most recently 30 years ago, is set to once again demonstrate its experience and expertise in parliamentary diplomacy, as well as the importance it places on multilateral relations and international dialogue.
Preparations for the event in Istanbul are being closely overseen by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. Kurtulmuş is also continuing his diplomatic outreach to ensure high-level participation. In addition to sending formal invitations to his counterparts in IPU member states, he has been inviting them to Istanbul through phone calls and one-on-one meetings.
As Türkiye was on edge with a war next door, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) gathered its top figures at its headquarters in Ankara for an ambitious campaign. The convention entitled “At Service of the Nation, Together With The Nation” was an event to promote the party’s campaign promises for the 2028 elections. The CHP unrealistically seeks to reschedule it and advocates for an early election, though it does not wield enough power in Parliament to press for an early vote.
Monday’s event was opened by the Office of the Presidential Candidacy of the CHP, which picked disgraced former Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, as its future presidential candidate, after he was arrested on charges of corruption last year. Imamoğlu is not expected to be released from prison any time soon, as his trial has not commenced and prosecutors seek hefty sentences for a wide array of offenses involving him and associates. Still, the former mayor graced a giant screen at Monday’s convention and, with the magic of AI, addressed the CHP members. The AI Imamoğlu claimed Türkiye needed a “major reform” and the CHP has to come to power to implement it, though he did not elaborate on this reform.
The CHP chair, Özgür Özel, was more specific and vocal than the imprisoned mayor. Indeed, he declared that the CHP would switch to the old parliamentary system from the current executive presidency system if it came to power. “The president will be neutral,” Özel, who ferociously campaigned for Imamoğlu’s presidency before reconsidering the option of running himself or nominating Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, told fellow CHP members.
After elaborating on the usual promises on the economy, Özel said Türkiye would lead “peace and welfare in the Middle East” under the rule of the CHP, which failed to win any general election for decades. He said Türkiye’s stand on foreign policy “would not change based on the U.S. stance,” implying a reassessment of ties with Washington. “We will have access to a visa-free Europe,” Özel also said.
Though Özel painted a bright outlook for the CHP, Türkiye’s oldest party remains mired in turmoil as it grapples with corruption investigations and a wave of resignations.
Senior party officials deny any rift, but tensions are said to be escalating between Özel and Imamoğlu. Imamoğlu is reportedly frustrated by what he sees as a repetitive cycle of rallies and by Özel’s inability to unify the party or quell calls for “renewal” from dissident factions, the Sabah newspaper reported on Sunday. Özel tried to rally the public to support the CHP’s claims that the arrest of Imamoğlu and other CHP mayors on charges of corruption were politically-motivated. Since the March 2025 arrest, CHP held rallies in almost every province, but the Sabah report says the impact of the rallies fizzled over time, unlike in the early days.
The report says Imamoğlu and his allies in the party are discussing the possibility of backing CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Gökhan Günaydın as a candidate for party leader should a sharp split with Özel and his team occur. Günaydın has long been considered one of Imamoğlu’s closest associates. Imamoğlu may not have the power to oust Özel, but he was caught red-handed while plotting to garner support for Özel against the latter’s predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in 2023. In addition, a new crisis is reportedly brewing between Günaydın and fellow CHP Deputy Group Chairs Ali Mahir Başarır and Murat Emir, both known for their closeness to Özel. The three are said to be increasingly estranged, the report says.
Günaydın recently called for “self-criticism” from party leadership over the “Mesut Özarslan crisis.” Özel publicly rebuked those remarks in sharp terms. Özarslan, the mayor of Keçiören in Ankara, has parted ways with CHP after a well-publicized spat with Özel on WhatsApp.
Özel was elected CHP leader in 2023 with significant backing from Imamoğlu, support that remains a subject of debate within the party. The convention in which Kılıçdaroğlu narrowly lost his post triggered deep divisions that have persisted. Imamoğlu is said to frequently remind Özel and his team of his decisive role at that convention, underscoring the weight of his support in shaping the party’s internal balance of power.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and the ensuing clashes pose a serious risk to both regional and global security, urging stronger diplomatic efforts to restore calm and bring parties back to dialogue, the Presidential Communications Directorate said Monday.
In a phone call with the German leader, President Erdoğan warned that ongoing clashes in the region are harming both regional and global security. He stressed the importance of intensifying peace-focused diplomatic efforts to restore lasting calm and encouraged all parties to return to dialogue.
Merz on Sunday voiced support for U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, while acknowledging legal concerns and warning of uncertainty over the potential regional consequences.
As tensions spike among Iran, Israel and the United States, Turkish officials say Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have been carrying out intensive shuttle diplomacy to avert a broader regional conflict. Experts caution that the unrest could spark new migration pressures, with Türkiye strengthening its border controls to guard against a possible influx.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that there will be serious consequences for global and regional security if the U.S.-led attacks on Iran are not contained, stressing that Türkiye is taking all necessary measures to protect the country and its citizens.
“If the necessary intervention is not made, the ongoing clashes will have serious consequences for regional and global security,” Erdoğan said at an iftar dinner at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in the capital Ankara.
Noting that Türkiye remains firmly on the side of peace, the president emphasized that Ankara wants an immediate end to bloodshed and suffering and for the region to finally achieve the lasting stability it has long awaited.
He added that Turkish authorities will intensify diplomatic contacts at every level until a cease-fire is secured and calm is restored.
As global tensions mount, Türkiye strives to thwart crises in its region. When the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran paved the way for another crisis, Türkiye openly declared it did not side with any party to the conflict, highlighting the importance of permanent peace and stability. Ankara did not support either the United States or Iran in their attacks and adheres to the principle of a solution to the issue based on international law.
Türkiye feels “deep sorrow” and is concerned over the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, “which began with provocations by (Israeli Premier) Netanyahu,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday.
“As you know, we exerted efforts for a long time for the dispute between the countries to be resolved through dialogue, at the negotiation table,” Erdoğan told an event in Istanbul. “I had phone calls with (U.S.) President Trump and (Iranian) President Pezeshkian. Other regional countries also worked to resolve the matter. However, the confidence crisis between the two sides failed to end, and Israel’s attempts to poison the process further contributed to the failure to get results (at negotiations),” he said.
“We are concerned about the attacks that blatantly violated Iran’s sovereignty and threatened the peace of the brotherly people of Iran. At the same time, we find it unacceptable that Iran launched missile and drone attacks on brotherly countries in the Gulf, regardless of the reason,” Erdoğan stated.
“If common sense does not prevail, if diplomacy is not given a chance, our region is at risk of being driven into a circle of fire. This should not be allowed,” he said. Erdoğan noted that all actors, particularly the Islamic world, should take emergency action before the war expands, before more bloodshed, and before the region suffers more. “Türkiye, since day one, is doing whatever it can for a peaceful solution of problems, and we will continue to do so,” Erdoğan said.
The president 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.
Earlier on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry warned that the developments risked the region’s future and global stability. In a statement, the ministry said they were deeply concerned about every action running against international law and threatening the lives of innocent civilians, and condemned any provocation that may escalate the violence. The ministry also said Türkiye was ready to offer support for mediation between the sides.
With attacks increasing, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged in phone diplomacy with his counterparts in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Egypt and Indonesia, discussing steps to end the attacks. On Sunday, he held a second phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
The Sabah newspaper reported that Ankara had three priorities as tensions unfolded: maintaining the cease-fire across the region, minimizing the civilian losses and paving the way for diplomacy. Türkiye is also vigilant over its border security as it shares a lengthy border with Iran.
Türkiye on Saturday rejected claims circulating on social media that Ankara supported the joint Israel-U.S. attacks on Iran, saying the posts contain disinformation.
“Claims circulating on certain social media platforms that Türkiye has supported the recent attacks against Iran are entirely unfounded and constitute disinformation aimed at misleading the public,” Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
It added that Türkiye “does not permit any of its air, land or maritime assets, including its airspace, to be used for operational purposes in any conflict or war to which it is not a party,” in accordance with Türkiye’s fundamental foreign and security policy principles.
“Türkiye’s sovereign rights over its airspace, land territory and maritime jurisdiction areas are full and indisputable. All activities within Türkiye’s sovereign areas are conducted solely in line with the national security assessments of the Republic of Türkiye and under the supervision and control of the competent authorities,” it added.
Earlier on Saturday, the Center for Combating Disinformation also rejected claims circulating on social media alleging illegal crossings into the country from the Iranian border.
“The images are old footage of an unknown time and place; it has been determined that they were deliberately circulated again following recent regional developments,” the center said in another statement on NSosyal.
It added that there is no concrete evidence linking the images to Türkiye’s border line, noting that such posts aim to create a negative perception among the public by targeting border security. “Türkiye’s border security is maintained uninterruptedly on a 24/7 basis through multilayered systems,” the center said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Kuwait’s emir on Sunday, expressing concern over recent attacks targeting Kuwait and emphasizing that disputes should be resolved through diplomacy and negotiations.
Türkiye’s communications directorate said Erdoğan conveyed his condolences and well wishes to Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah following Iranian attacks.
The U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top officials, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes that hit several Gulf countries.
During the call, Erdoğan said the most rational path to resolving regional tensions is through dialogue and diplomatic efforts. He added that Türkiye would continue to do its part to help quickly restore stability and a climate of peace in the region.
Since the war began, Erdoğan spoke by phone with leaders of Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, expressing sorrow about the attacks directed at their countries and concern about repercussions of the war for regional and global security.
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