Turkish Foreign Minister: The Region is on the Brink of Escalating Tensions

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in an interview with A HABER television, commented on the recent tensions in the Middle East, stating: “It is in the interest of Türkiye and our region that new wars do not break out and existing conflicts come to an end.” Fidan emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement between Iran and the U.S., adding, “Both sides are inclined to negotiate, and Europe also wants the dialogues to continue.”

Referring to the temporary pause in hostilities after 12 days, Fidan warned that this calm is fragile and that the region must remain on high alert. He said, “An Iran-Israel war will not only affect the two countries but will have repercussions that impact the entire region.”

The Turkish Foreign Minister also touched on Iran’s nuclear program, stating, “Recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities have caused significant damage.” He added that the main challenge in upcoming negotiations would be whether the U.S. focuses solely on the nuclear issue or raises other matters as well.

Fidan believes that negotiations could lead to a mutual agreement similar to the Obama era, but he also noted that, under current conditions—12 days into the war—proposals demanding Iran’s complete surrender and the elimination of its non-nuclear capabilities would likely not be accepted.

“Israel’s attack placed Iran in a position of legitimate self-defense and showed that Israel is not a country capable of destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities but rather demonstrated its willingness to confront Iran,” he said.

Fidan highlighted the influence of Israel’s domestic politics, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, on regional dynamics, stating: “Unfortunately, we have once again seen how domestic politics affects international policy. The world has witnessed a political rationality that is unwilling to set the region ablaze merely for its own political future.”

In another part of his remarks, he addressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying: “Conditions in Gaza are unbearable. Dozens of people are dying every day due to the blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid. This is an intentional process, and the world must hold those responsible to account.”