Türkiye pursues diplomacy to end US-Israel-Iran war, warns against regional spillover

2026-03-09 - 04:52

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan outlined Ankara's active diplomatic engagement to halt the widening conflict between the US, Israel and Iran during a press conference Saturday following an informal meeting of the Organization of Turkic States Foreign Ministers Council. Fidan emphasized Türkiye's commitment to a peace-oriented policy against what he described as Israel's strategy of causing instability, conflicts, and civil wars throughout the region. Ankara highlights Iran's defensive stance Fidan drew attention to statements from Iranian leadership indicating a restrained position, noting "Mr Pezeshkian's statement -- 'We will not attack unless attacked. We apologize for attacking' -- is a statement that we have emphasized." The foreign minister acknowledged that reservations exist within Iran regarding this approach but characterized them as internal matters within the Iranian system. The comments suggest Ankara is working to reinforce elements within Tehran that favor de-escalation. Turkic states unite behind peace efforts The foreign minister reported that Organization of Turkic States members have adopted a statement regarding regional developments, warning that any attack targeting one member state would be a source of great concern for all. Fidan thanked member countries for their strong support and solidarity in the face of attacks targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan, underscoring the deepening cooperation among Turkic nations amid regional turmoil. He noted concrete progress in economic, cultural and connectivity areas while stressing the importance of developing common positions on global developments as the international system becomes increasingly unpredictable. Warnings against targeting third countries Fidan issued sharp criticism of attacks targeting nations not directly involved in the conflict, stating "I want to emphasize once again that we strongly condemn attacks targeting third countries." He specifically noted that strikes targeting Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain endanger innocent civilians and increase the risk of the war spreading. The foreign minister characterized using attacks on neighboring countries as a pressure tactic as neither a sound war strategy nor beneficial for regional stability, particularly condemning attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure of nations that do not allow their airspace or bases to be used by belligerents. Missile incident and Türkiye's measured response Addressing the missile that was intercepted entering Türkiye's airspace, Fidan struck a cautious tone, stating the country does not easily fall for provocations and has no difficulty defending its security while recognizing the risks of being dragged into a wider conflict. "If this was a missile that lost its course, that is one thing. But such incidents should happen only once. If there are going to be more, our advice is: Please be careful, no one in Iran should embark on such an adventure," he warned, while acknowledging Türkiye has consistently maintained a principled, transparent stance toward Iran despite years of sanctions and pressure. Concerns over ethnic conflict, Kurdish groups Fidan addressed reports that the US may be organizing Kurdish groups to help overthrow the Iranian government, noting Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization and defense authorities are closely monitoring those activities. While stating that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him Washington was not pursuing such efforts, Fidan warned that "Israel's intentions in this regard were no secret," noting Israel has for years adopted a strategy of using Kurdish groups as proxy forces in the region. The foreign minister warned that any scenario aimed at triggering a civil war in Iran along ethnic or sectarian fault lines would be the most dangerous outcome, causing immense suffering and potentially displacing millions. "After Iraq and Syria, a prolonged period of uncertainty, war and instability in Iran would benefit no one," he said, noting Türkiye shares a 560-kilometer border with Iran. "Any internal crisis in such a large country would inevitably spread across the region with a multiplier effect. That is why we are seeking ways to prevent such a scenario." Diplomacy only viable solution Fidan stressed that the war must end as soon as possible and that diplomacy remains the only viable solution. "We have spent months trying to establish a negotiation table. Even today we continue to say that diplomacy is the only option to resolve the problems," he said, warning that conflicts may benefit terror groups and threaten global energy security. He noted that a large majority of global public opinion supports ending the war, with some countries taking open positions like Spain while others raise the issue privately, and said Türkiye is working to transform this international consensus into concrete diplomatic action.