Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has described the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran as a “clear violation of international law”, in his strongest remarks yet on the escalating regional crisis.
Speaking on Monday, Erdoğan said Ankara had intensified diplomatic efforts “at all levels” to secure a swift ceasefire and restore stability to the region.
His comments came as Ömer Çelik, spokesman for Türkiye’s ruling AK Party, sharply criticised the joint operation, calling it an “unjust and unlawful attack” on Iran.
The ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes began early on Saturday (28 February) and “lack legitimacy under international law,” Çelik said.
Çelik also condemned the U.S. decision to launch the military campaign while negotiations with Iran were still under way, warning that the move could have “deeply troubling consequences”.
He argued that U.S. military action, carried out in support of what he described as Israel’s “hard-line foreign policy agenda”, had “destabilised the entire region”.
However, Çelik also urged Tehran to avoid widening the conflict by targeting third countries.
“There must be a clear distinction between the right to self-defence and actions that could trigger a wider regional war,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, Erdoğan held a telephone call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss the crisis.
According to the Turkish presidency, Erdoğan told the NATO chief that Ankara was monitoring developments closely and stressed the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.
Rutte reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to collective defence, highlighting the alliance’s “360-degree approach” to addressing regional and global security threats.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Türkiye's parliament has approved a two-year extension of the country's military deployment in Somalia, reinforcing deepening security ties between Ankara and Mogadishu as the Horn of Africa nation continues to battle terrorism, piracy and other security threats.
Georgia's fuel imports from Belarus surged by 3,469% in the first half of 2026 as Russia's export bans disrupted regional supplies, highlighting a rapid shift in the country's fuel market.
Tashkent attracted $4.3 billion in foreign direct investment and loans during the first half of 2026, reinforcing its position as Uzbekistan’s leading destination for investment as the capital continued to outpace the national economy.
Pakistan stepped up its economic engagement with the U.S. during Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's visit to Washington this week, holding talks on investment, development finance and access to international capital markets as Islamabad seeks to broaden its economic partnerships.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
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