Turkish FM Fidan warns renewed attack on Iran could widen regional war
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday that Türkiye and participating countries agree that a renewed attack on Iran could expand the war across the region, urging all parties to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue.
Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul following meetings under the R4 and expanded R4+E3 formats, Fidan said the participating countries opposed further escalation and supported ending the conflicts in the Gulf and Ukraine through ceasefires and diplomatic efforts.
“We reached a broad consensus that diplomacy and dialogue are the best way forward, rather than another attack on Iran,” Fidan said, adding that participants had agreed to convey the same message to all parties.
The R4 group comprises Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, while the expanded R4+E3 format includes the United Kingdom, Germany and France, with Italy also participating in the Istanbul meeting.
Hormuz reopening and maritime security in focus
Fidan stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must reopen as soon as possible, warning that disruptions to maritime traffic were placing pressure on global energy markets, food supplies and international trade.
He also raised concerns over security in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Black Sea, where maritime risks have disrupted commercial shipping and threatened vital trade routes.
The Turkish foreign minister said the participating countries agreed that attacks against Saudi Arabia must stop and discussed diplomatic measures to prevent further escalation.
Fidan said the meetings brought European and regional powers together to address interconnected crises affecting both regions.
“Responsible states must seek peaceful solutions to these problems,” he said, emphasizing that further military intervention against Iran would not resolve the crisis.
He added that the dispute between Washington and Tehran could develop either toward diplomacy or further conflict, depending on the positions adopted by regional and international actors.
Fidan said the discussions focused on resolving the crisis without allowing further destruction or a wider regional war, while stressing that support for dialogue did not mean accepting violations of other countries’ rights or the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Türkiye pushes for ceasefire in Ukraine
The talks also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war, with participants supporting an early ceasefire and a peace agreement, Fidan said.
He warned that the conflict had undermined maritime security in the Black Sea and restricted the movement of Russian and Ukrainian grain to international markets.
Fidan recalled Türkiye’s previous role in facilitating grain exports through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, saying Ankara was consulting relevant parties on ways to bring grain currently held in Russia and Ukraine to global markets.
He said that if an end to the war remained out of reach, the parties should consider exemptions for energy and grain to limit the impact on international markets and other countries.
The foreign minister said disruptions to Black Sea shipping and restrictions on Gulf maritime routes were contributing to wider economic pressures, including higher energy costs and food insecurity.
Erdogan meets visiting foreign ministers
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also received foreign ministers attending the R4+E3 meeting at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on Friday.
The delegation included Fidan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Fidan described the expanded diplomatic format as a flexible platform for European and regional countries to exchange views, coordinate policies and develop practical responses to shared challenges.
He said the geographical and economic links between Europe, the Middle East and neighbouring regions made closer coordination increasingly important.
Fidan rejects anti-Türkiye rhetoric in Israel
Responding to a question about anti-Türkiye rhetoric during Israel’s election campaign, Fidan rejected what he described as attempts by political parties to use Türkiye as a target to attract voters.
He characterized such rhetoric as an inexpensive political tactic and said Ankara did not consider it worthy of serious attention.
Libya maritime agreement and political unity
Fidan also addressed the maritime jurisdiction agreement signed between Türkiye and Libya in 2019, saying he was surprised that its consideration by Libya’s House of Representatives had become a source of political controversy.
He said Ankara was aware of Greece’s diplomatic initiatives within the European Union concerning the agreement but would continue its efforts to promote stability in Libya.
Fidan acknowledged that Egypt had reservations about the memorandum, adding that Türkiye had discussed the matter with Cairo for several years and maintained a constructive approach.
He said Türkiye, Italy and Egypt could hold joint discussions to address Egyptian and Libyan concerns, stressing that constructive engagement was possible.
The minister also said conditions were increasingly favourable for achieving lasting unity between eastern and western Libya, including the integration of separate military structures into a unified national army.
Fidan said Türkiye and other international actors were working toward that objective and indicated that Ankara hoped to announce positive developments in the near future.
Source:AA
