Turkish and Iranian Foreign Ministers Discuss Regional Developments in Phone Call

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a phone call on Friday to discuss recent regional developments, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The call was made at the request of the Iranian side.

The two ministers focused their discussion on the situation in Gaza and the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. "The Turkish Foreign Ministry has called on all parties to refrain from steps that could lead to a wider conflict, and has emphasized the priority of stopping the massacre in Gaza and ensuring lasting peace in the region by establishing a Palestinian state," the sources said.

The phone call comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Iran recently launched a drone and missile attack in response to an attack on its consulate in Syria, which killed seven Iranian military officers. There have also been reports of a "limited strike" by Israel inside Iran, though Israel has not officially commented on the matter.

Why this matters: The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as the ongoing violence in Gaza, have raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. The involvement of major regional powers like Turkey and Iran underscores the complexity and high stakes of the situation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the escalation, saying that neither side has made any reasonable statements. Turkey has severed ties with Israel after the Netanyahu government's attack on Gaza and has called on the international community to help end the conflict and provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry warned that the tension between Iran and Israel could turn into a permanent and wider conflict if not addressed. "The tensions were initially caused by Israel's illegal attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1, which killed senior Iranian officials. In response, Iran carried out a comprehensive drone and missile attack on April 13," the ministry stated. It called on all parties to refrain from escalatory steps and said it is closely monitoring the events.

Key Takeaways

• Turkish and Iranian FMs held phone call to discuss regional tensions.
• Discussed escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, situation in Gaza.
• Turkey called for restraint, stopping violence in Gaza, and establishing Palestinian state.
• Tensions heightened after Iran's attack on its consulate in Syria and reported Israeli strike in Iran.
• Turkey warned conflict between Iran and Israel could escalate into wider regional conflict.