Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan has said that Türkiye has been taking the necessary measures in the aftermath of Israel’s attack on Iran and the latter’s possible response.
Israel launched the large-scale attack on Iran earlier today, targeting the country’s nuclear and military facilities.
Several senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes. The wave of strikes is said to have continued.
Iran vowed “severe punishment,” and called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
According to reports, Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, made a written request for an emergency meeting of the council, calling for it to take “decisive action … against these criminal acts.”
Fidan’s statement came after a critical 4-hour meeting with Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalın.
The meeting is focused on discussing the developments triggered by Israel’s airstrikes and their potential repercussions. The consultations aimed to ensure that Turkey is prepared for various scenarios and that all measures align with the directives of the country’s leadership.
In his statement, Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been closely monitoring Israel-Iran developments from the very beginning and is being kept informed. “In line with his instructions, Türkiye’s relevant institutions are taking all necessary measures based on possible scenarios concerning our country,” Fidan said.
Fidan stated that the country has been actively engaged in comprehensive assessments with top security officials following Israel’s recent airstrike targeting Iran.
In a detailed statement, Fidan revealed that Turkey is maintaining intensive diplomatic communications with Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and the United States to coordinate responses and strategies.
He continued by saying that Israel must immediately abandon its strategy of destabilizing the region, which has caused a humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, dragged Lebanon into instability, led to the occupation of Syria, and now targets Iran. “We must not let growing tensions in our region to distract attention from genocide taking place in Gaza,” he said.
Additionally, Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to regional stability, peace, and the protection of civilian lives, emphasizing that the country will continue to engage diplomatically and coordinate with international partners to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape.
Fidan also held separate phone calls with Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein and Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi regarding the developments.
The officials exchanged views on the potential consequences of the escalation and stressed the importance of coordinated regional diplomacy to de-escalate the situation.
Call For Diplomacy
As he chaired a high-level meeting following Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites, the Turkish Foreign Minister asserted that advancing the negotiations process started by US President, Donald Trump on Iran’s nuclear program is the “only way” to resolve the conflict.
Fidan said on X, “Diplomacy is the only alternative to war,” after his meeting with Turkish officials, which included the Defense Minister, Head of intelligence and Chief of general staff.
A sixth round of indirect talks between the US and Iran, mediated by Oman, was scheduled for Sunday.
It was not immediately clear if the talks meant for a new deal will proceed after Israeli strikes.
Trump says Iran should not be able to build a nuclear bomb, and has indicated it “may have another opportunity” to strike a nuclear agreement with the US.
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