Turkey’s Erdogan Calls for Peace in Iran

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Iran, pledging Turkish diplomatic support to facilitate a truce between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Speaking to party members in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Erdoğan emphasised the urgent need to halt bloodshed and restore long-term stability in the region.

“We stand for peace. We want the bloodshed to stop, tears to cease, and the enduring peace our region has long yearned for to finally be realised,” Erdoğan stated.

While maintaining cordial relations with the United States, Erdoğan strongly criticised its ally, Israel, for its role in recent hostilities. He condemned the joint U.S.–Israeli strike on Tehran on 28 February, which triggered retaliatory attacks from Iran. “The attack by the United States and Israel on Saturday, which sparked this conflict and led to Tehran’s counterstrike, was entirely illegal. We must ensure such actions never occur again,” he said.

Erdoğan stressed that Turkey would continue robust diplomatic engagement at all levels until a ceasefire is implemented and peace is restored. He particularly highlighted the plight of civilians, especially children, who have suffered as a result of the conflict, expressing deep concern over their humanitarian situation.

Turkey, a NATO member with a predominantly Muslim population, shares a roughly 500-kilometre border with Iran. Maintaining security and stability along this frontier is regarded as critical to Turkey’s national interests, given the potential for regional spillover effects.

The 28 February strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Tehran and other key locations, resulting in the deaths of nearly fifty senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei