Türkiye’s foreign minister has appealed for restraint and diplomacy as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz unsettle global markets, warning that any military attempt to resolve the crisis could deepen instability rather than ease it.
Speaking in Ankara, Hakan Fidan struck a measured but urgent tone, calling for the strategic waterway to be reopened “as soon as possible” through peaceful means.
His comments come at a time when concerns are growing over the impact of disruptions to one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. Even minor interruptions can ripple across energy markets, pushing up prices and placing pressure on industries far beyond the region.
Fidan cautioned that talk of military intervention - widely discussed in international circles - risks drawing countries into a broader conflict, particularly with Iran.
“No country wants to be part of such a war,” he said, reflecting a sentiment he suggested is shared across Europe.
His remarks appear to push back, at least in tone, against proposals reportedly backed by Donald Trump to establish an international force to secure shipping through the strait.
While acknowledging the urgency of keeping trade routes open, Fidan warned that enforcing access through military means would be “fraught with difficulties” and unlikely to deliver lasting stability.
Instead, Türkiye is positioning itself as a supporter of diplomatic engagement. Fidan emphasised that Ankara wants to remain outside any direct conflict while still playing a constructive role in easing tensions.
On the same day, he held separate calls with officials in Russia and Saudi Arabia - two key regional players - signalling a quiet effort to build consensus behind a negotiated solution.
Although Türkiye does not rely heavily on the strait for its own energy imports, it is far from insulated. Global oil price swings, driven by uncertainty in the Gulf, could still have a knock-on effect on the country’s economy, from fuel costs to industrial production.
Beyond oil, the disruption is already raising concerns in petrochemicals and manufacturing supply chains, sectors that depend on steady flows through the Gulf.
Analysts warn that prolonged instability could feed into inflation and slow economic activity worldwide.
For now, Fidan’s message is clear: reopening the Strait of Hormuz is essential - but how it is done matters just as much as when. In a region long shaped by conflict, Türkiye is urging the world to choose diplomacy over force before the situation escalates further.
The U.S. military has said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U...
The first Baku-Tbilisi passenger train, operated by Azerbaijan Railways, has arrived in the Georgian capital at 09:04 local time on Monday, 26 May. T...
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday....
FIFA has confirmed that Iran has moved its World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East and rel...
Iran is restoring global Internet access after President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the repeal of restrictions that have been in place for almost three...
The U.S. military has said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said peace talks could drag out for several more days while the language of a deal is finalised.
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday.
Iran is restoring global Internet access after President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the repeal of restrictions that have been in place for almost three months.
Farmers in Sudan say the war involving Iran is pushing up fuel and fertiliser prices, forcing many to cut back on planting and threatening food production in a country already struggling with widespread hunger.
The inaugural Enhanced Games began in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25th May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
The first Baku-Tbilisi passenger train, operated by Azerbaijan Railways, has arrived in the Georgian capital at 09:04 local time on Monday, 26 May. The service resumed after a six-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in decades, Armenia has rail access to the EU. The Akhalkalaki–Kars corridor, running through Georgia into Türkiye, is now officially open for Armenian cargo - a quiet but consequential shift in the region’s economic geography.
The Kremlin warned on Monday that Armenia could lose the “very attractive” price it pays for Russian gas if it moved away from integration with Russia and deepened ties with the European Union.
Uzbekistan has unveiled its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament. The national team, led by Italian head coach Fabio Cannavaro, will compete at the tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population - more than 21 million people - needed humanitarian assistance in the first three months of 2026, according to the United Nations, yet aid agencies reached only 4.7 million people.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment