Istanbul, Turkey – Web Desk: Turkey is acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States, conveying messages aimed at de-escalating tensions and facilitating potential direct negotiations, a ruling party official said Wednesday.
Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, told Reuters that messages were also being shared with Gulf nations affected by the widening regional conflict triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Armagan did not elaborate on the content of the messages.
Iran’s military on Wednesday rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington was engaged in talks to end the war. Despite this, Turkey has consistently sought to mediate between the two sides since the conflict began nearly a month ago.
President Erdogan has pledged to use all resources available to promote peace. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been providing “friendly” advice to Tehran to avoid escalation while simultaneously communicating with Washington to assess both sides’ positions. A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed that Fidan spoke with U.S. officials and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to discuss potential steps to end the conflict.
Since the war’s outbreak, NATO air defenses have intercepted three Iranian missiles headed toward Turkey, highlighting the broader regional risks. Analysts note that Turkey’s role as a neutral mediator is key to preventing further escalation in the Gulf and Red Sea regions.
