Turkey and Iran Discuss Gaza, Syria, and De-escalation of Middle East Tensions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a meeting on Friday, followed by a joint press conference in Istanbul, amid heightened U.S. tensions in the Middle East.
Fidan expressed condolences over recent terrorist attacks in Iran and reaffirmed Turkey’s opposition to any military aggression against Tehran. He stressed that “military action is not a solution” and warned that any attack could destabilize the wider region.
The Turkish minister also criticized Israel for allegedly encouraging U.S. action against Iran, calling on Jerusalem to end its “warmongering policies.”Both ministers discussed Gaza, with Fidan highlighting Turkey’s ongoing efforts to maintain a ceasefire, and Syria, noting an agreement to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army.
Araghchi praised Turkey’s stance on U.S. threats and reiterated Iran’s position against Israeli expansionism. He stressed that regional security is interconnected and underscored Tehran’s willingness to participate in any fair and meaningful discussions based on equality, mutual respect, and shared interests.
The Iranian minister reiterated that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons and welcomed diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions, maintaining lasting peace, and countering what he described as “sinister Zionist conspiracies.”
Araghchi also criticized the EU’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, calling it a strategic mistake, and noted the IRGC’s role in combating ISIL, which he argued prevented terrorism from spreading to Europe.
He concluded that a U.S. military strike against Iran is not an option, recalling past attempts that failed and emphasizing that diplomacy remains the preferred path to de-escalation in the region.
