Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call to prioritize diplomacy with Iran, warning that stalled negotiations and escalating tensions risk deepening the regional conflict, the Turkish presidency said on Tuesday.
Turkey, which borders Iran and fields NATO’s second-largest army, has repeatedly called for an end to the war. Ankara has maintained close contact with Washington, Tehran, and mediators including Pakistan and Qatar, while positioning itself as an intermediary between the parties.
Diplomacy at a Crossroads
Erdogan stressed the critical need to exhaust diplomatic channels amid the standoff between Iran and the United States.
“Erdogan stated that it is of great importance to make the utmost of diplomacy regarding the tensions between Iran and the United States, that we hope the talks will continue, and that Turkey will continue to support peace efforts,” the presidency said in a statement.
The call comes after a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would shift to a “fully offensive” military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war have stalled. Washington has ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement.
Strait of Hormuz and Regional Stability
Progress toward resuming oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also stalled, adding to global energy security concerns. Turkey has criticized the U.S. and Israeli assault on Iran, while condemning Iranian attacks on Gulf states and calling for the strategic strait’s reopening.
On Monday, Turkey’s foreign minister discussed the strait’s reopening and the continuation of the ceasefire with his Iranian counterpart.
Broader Agenda: Gaza and Defense Pact
The presidency added that Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral ties, the war in Gaza, and a defense pact signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Erdogan praised the accord as a sign of a “strong stance” for regional stability and security.
Erdogan told Trump that Israeli attacks on Palestinians had increased at a time when the second phase of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan was supposed to come into effect.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the call.
