Turkey has announced it will offer to mediate between the U.S. and Iran during a visit by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, January 30th, as Ankara also considers reinforcing security along its border should tensions escalate.
The visit follows heightened U.S.–Iran tensions after President Donald Trump threatened military action over Iran’s deadly crackdown on protests earlier this month. A U.S. naval strike group recently arrived in Middle East waters, with Trump warning it is “ready, willing and able” to strike “if necessary”.
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said his country is prepared “to contribute to resolving the current tensions through dialogue.” He reiterated Turkey’s opposition to military interventions against Iran, citing the potential regional and global risks such actions could entail. “It’s wrong to attack Iran. It’s wrong to start the war again. Iran is ready to negotiate on the nuclear file again,” Fidan said.
The Turkish foreign ministry confirmed that Ankara supports reaching a peaceful solution to Iran’s nuclear program and is ready to provide assistance if needed. The talks will prioritize resuming discussions over Iran’s nuclear program as the most pressing issue.
