Turkish, Iranian FMs speak by phone as Tehran denies firing missile at Türkiye

Turkish, Iranian FMs speak by phone as Tehran denies firing missile at Türkiye
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
Reuters

Türkiye and Iran’s foreign ministers spoke by phone after reports that a ballistic missile entered Turkish airspace, with Tehran denying responsibility and insisting its recent strikes targeted only U.S. and Israeli facilities.

Turkish diplomatic sources said Hakan Fidan warned his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that any step that could further escalate the regional conflict - now in its sixth day - must be avoided.

In a statement released by Iran’s foreign ministry, Araghchi said Iran’s missile strikes were “retaliatory” in nature and were directed “exclusively against U.S. and Israeli facilities” used to attack Iran.

In a separate statement issued Thursday, Iran’s military denied firing any missiles towards Turkish territory, stressing Tehran’s respect for Türkiye’s territorial sovereignty.

Earlier Wednesday, an incoming missile was intercepted by NATO air-defence units in the eastern Mediterranean after being detected over Iraqi and Syrian airspace, the Turkish Defence Ministry said.

Debris from the intercepted projectile fell in Türkiye’s southern Hatay province but caused no casualties or damage, the ministry added.

Fidan–Rubio phone call

Fidan also spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told his Turkish counterpart that any attack on Türkiye’s sovereign territory would be “unacceptable”.

According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio also said Türkiye - a key NATO member - had the full support of the United States, emphasising the strength of ties between the two countries.

In the immediate aftermath of the missile incident, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara was “leaving nothing to chance” in safeguarding its borders and airspace.

On Thursday, Turkish Defence Ministry spokesman Zeki Akturk said Türkiye reserved the right to respond to hostile actions “regardless of where they come from.”

He added that Ankara was “closely monitoring developments in coordination with NATO and its other allies.”

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