Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Donald Trump to prioritize diplomacy with Iran amid escalating tensions and stalled talks, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency released Tuesday. Erdogan emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict, expressing hope that negotiations will continue and reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to peace initiatives.
Turkey, which maintains the world’s second-largest NATO army and shares a border with Iran, has been a persistent advocate for ending the ongoing hostilities. The country has kept close communication channels open with the United States, Iran, and key mediators like Pakistan and Qatar, often acting as a go-between for conflicting parties.
The Turkish presidency conveyed that Erdogan highlighted the critical need for diplomatic engagement regarding Iran-U.S. tensions, and expressed Turkey’s ongoing support for peace efforts.
This call followed comments from a senior Iranian official earlier Monday, who warned of Iran potentially adopting a fully offensive military posture if negotiations fail to deliver a permanent resolution. This comes as efforts to extend a temporary ceasefire in the region have fallen through, with prospects for resuming oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz also stalled.
Turkey has condemned recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as well as Iranian attacks on Gulf nations, and continues to call for the reopening of the strategic strait. On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu discussed the reopening of the strait and the ongoing ceasefire with his Iranian counterpart.
Additionally, Erdogan and Trump discussed bilateral relations, the conflict in Gaza, and a defense agreement signed recently between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Erdogan praised the pact as a sign of regional stability.
Erdogan also told Trump that Israeli attacks on Palestinians have intensified just as the second phase of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan was expected to begin. The White House has yet to comment publicly on the phone conversation.