Turkey has urged the United States (US) to restart nuclear negotiations with Iran, warning against renewed military action as tensions escalate in the Middle East. The appeal came from Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview broadcast on Wednesday, amid reports of increased US naval presence in the region.
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Speaking to Qatar-based Al Jazeera television, Fidan said it would be wrong to attack Iran or push the region back toward war. He emphasized that Tehran remains willing to negotiate on its nuclear programme and called on Washington to pursue diplomacy step by step. “My advice has always been to our American friends: close the files one by one with the Iranians. Start with the nuclear issue and close it. Then move on to the others,” he said.
His comments followed confirmation from US Central Command that a US aircraft carrier-led strike group had moved into Middle Eastern waters, though its exact location was not disclosed. Washington has not ruled out military action against Iran following its crackdown on recent protests, which rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths within days.
US President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals since the unrest began earlier this month, which was accompanied by a nationwide internet blackout in Iran. NATO member Turkey, which shares a 530-kilometre border with Iran, has consistently opposed military operations against the Islamic Republic.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week described the unrest as a “new test” for Tehran and pledged that Turkey would oppose any move that could plunge the region into chaos. He said diplomacy and dialogue offered the best path forward during what he called a “trap-filled period”.
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Fidan stressed that issues with Iran should not be treated as a single package, warning that doing so could prove counterproductive or even humiliating for Iranian leaders. He also said Iran must work to build trust with neighbouring countries, urging Tehran to consider how it is perceived across the region.