Turkish FM says reviving Trump-initiated Iran nuclear talks is ‘only way’ to resolve crisis

Reuters

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Friday for a revival of the Iran nuclear negotiations process launched by former US President Donald Trump, saying diplomacy remains the sole path to prevent war amid escalating tensions following Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Advancing the diplomatic process initiated under former US President Donald Trump to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions is the “only way” to resolve the current regional conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday.

Fidan chaired a high-level security meeting in Ankara after Israeli forces struck Iranian nuclear and military sites in a series of attacks that began early Friday and reportedly continued throughout the day.

“Diplomacy is the only alternative to war,” Fidan wrote on X, following discussions with Turkish defense, intelligence, and military leaders.

The foreign minister emphasized that Türkiye remains in close communication with regional stakeholders including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and the United States, as well as international actors, in efforts to defuse tensions.

He warned against allowing the growing confrontation between Iran and Israel to overshadow the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: “We must not allow the growing tension in our region to divert attention from the genocide taking place in Gaza.”

Fidan confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been “closely” monitoring developments and that Turkish institutions are actively preparing for all possible scenarios affecting national security.

Meanwhile, a sixth round of indirect talks between Iran and the US — mediated by Oman and aimed at reviving a nuclear agreement — was scheduled for Sunday. However, the status of those talks remains uncertain following the Israeli strikes.

Former US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during his administration, has consistently argued that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. He recently hinted that a new opportunity for a deal may arise.

Fidan also issued a strong condemnation of Israel, accusing it of contributing to regional instability through its actions in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and now Iran. He called on Tel Aviv to immediately abandon its “strategy of destabilizing the region.”

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