Turkish FM claims Israel is still looking for opportunity to hit Iran

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on 23 January there are signs Israel is still seeking an opportunity to attack Iran, warning that such a move could further destabilise the Middle East.

Fidan told Turkish broadcaster NTV that although he hoped Israel would choose a different course, evidence suggested Tel Aviv was actively looking for a way to strike Iran, a scenario Ankara believes risks expanding conflict rather than resolving tensions.

The foreign minister said he had conveyed Türkiye’s concerns during a recent visit to Tehran, where he spoke with Iranian officials as part of efforts to build stability and avoid military escalation between rival powers.

His remarks followed a phone call on 22 January between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye opposes any foreign intervention in Iran and values peace and stability with its neighbour.

• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: Türkiye opposes foreign intervention in Iran

The warning comes amid broader tensions between Israel and Iran, which have played out through proxy conflicts across the region and heightened fears of direct military confrontation. Tehran has warned it would treat any attack by external forces as “an all-out war against us”, highlighting the risks of escalation.

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