Turkish FM holds diplomatic calls on Iran war with four nations

2026-03-23 - 19:00

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted a series of telephone conversations Monday with his counterparts from Egypt, Norway, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, focusing on the ongoing war in the Middle East involving Iran, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The calls represent Ankara’s sustained diplomatic efforts to coordinate with regional and international partners as the conflict enters its fourth week. Fidan’s discussions with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan centered on ways to halt the hostilities and pursue a political resolution. In a separate call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the two officials exchanged assessments of the latest developments on the ground. Türkiye’s active mediation role The flurry of diplomatic contacts underscores Türkiye’s position as an active mediator in regional crises. Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, Ankara has maintained communication channels with all parties while calling for restraint and a return to dialogue. The conflict has so far claimed more than 1,300 lives, including Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and has drawn in Jordan, Iraq and Gulf nations hosting American military assets. Regional and global implications Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with countries hosting US forces, causing casualties, infrastructure damage and disruption to global energy markets and aviation. Türkiye continues to advocate for a ceasefire, warning that the expanding war threatens regional stability and carries severe economic consequences. The coordination with Egypt, Norway, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflects Ankara’s broad-based approach to building consensus for de-escalation as diplomatic efforts intensify.