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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Türkiye is ready to mediate between Iran and the United States to help reduce tensions, reiterating Ankara’s firm opposition to any military action against Tehran.
“Türkiye is ready to assume a facilitating role between Iran and the United States to de-escalate tensions and help resolve issues through diplomatic means,” Erdogan said in an interview with the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
The president stressed that Türkiye does not want the region to see “a new war or a new wave of destruction.”
“We have openly and consistently expressed our opposition to any military intervention against Iran on every platform,” Erdogan said, calling on all parties to avoid steps that could trigger escalation.
Erdogan called for the establishment of regional security mechanisms “to prevent crises before they occur.”
“What our region needs is not new divisions, but a foundation for cooperation shaped by common wisdom and shared responsibility,” he said.
“Our aim is not to manage conflict but to jointly strengthen the diplomatic groundwork that will prevent it from arising in the first place,” Erdogan added, underscoring the need for a regional security framework.
He said Türkiye continues consultations with influential regional actors, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and stressed that Ankara does not view regional issues through “the lens of bloc alignment or alliances.”
Erdogan said past experiences show that externally imposed scenarios that ignore the region’s history, identity and realities have resulted in “pain and suffering,” citing conflicts in Gaza, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
Turning to relations with Saudi Arabia, Erdogan said ties between Ankara and Riyadh carry “strategic significance for the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region as a whole.”
“Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are two friendly countries with deep historical ties, strong state traditions, and a shared sense of regional responsibility,” he said.
Erdogan said relations extend beyond economic cooperation, describing them as a stabilizing partnership that enhances consultation, coordination and joint action.
He said there are significant opportunities in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, tourism, transport and logistics, stressing that this potential “should not remain confined to paper.”
On defense cooperation, Erdogan said joint production, technology transfer and training “will not only strengthen the defense capacities of both countries but also further consolidate the foundations of our strategic partnership.”
On Syria, Erdogan said Damascus has paid a “heavy cost” during years of war and division, adding that recent political and diplomatic developments suggest the possibility of “opening a new political horizon.”
He emphasized the importance of societal reconciliation and a shared sense of belonging around the central government, noting that this applies to northeastern Syria, the south, the coast and all parts of the country.
“Our benchmark is clear: a Syria that does not threaten its neighbors, denies safe haven to terrorist organizations, and embraces all segments of society based on equal citizenship is essential for regional stability,” Erdogan said.
Türkiye believes Syria’s future “will be shaped by the will of the Syrian people,” he said, adding that Ankara will continue to support efforts that strengthen Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and stability.
On Gaza, Erdogan said discussions about peacekeeping forces or international missions would be meaningful only if they lead to concrete results on the ground.
Such mechanisms must focus on protecting civilians, ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid and contributing to a permanent and just peace, he said.
“Any discussion held without securing these fundamental points would miss the essence of the matter,” Erdogan said.
He reiterated the need for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 and stressed the importance of “confidence-building measures on the ground.”
“Measures that do not serve peace on the ground have no real value, regardless of the labels attached to them,” Erdogan said, adding that Türkiye would assess any potential role based on clear conditions and practical outcomes.
“In this context, once the necessary conditions are in place, Türkiye is ready to shoulder responsibility in contributing to peace in Gaza, including the possibility of a military contribution,” he said.
He rejected remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposing the involvement of Türkiye and Qatar, saying the focus should be on building a workable peace framework.
Addressing the conflict in Sudan, Erdogan said the Sudanese people are living in “devastating conditions” due to a civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which recently entered its 1,000th day.
“Unfortunately, our Sudanese brothers and sisters are entering yet another Ramadan amid conflict,” he said.
Erdogan said Türkiye supports diplomatic efforts to end the fighting and restore stability, highlighting Ankara’s humanitarian assistance, including aid shipments, shelter support, the reopening of the Turkish aid agency TIKA’s office, and the resumption of flights to Port Sudan.
“Since 2024, nine aid vessels that we have dispatched have delivered a total of 12,600 tons of humanitarian aid and 30,000 tents to our Sudanese brothers and sisters,” he said.
He added that cooperation continues in agriculture, mining, and energy and that Türkiye is assessing reconstruction needs in destroyed cities, including the capital, Khartoum.
On Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, Erdogan described the move as “illegitimate, null and void.”
“The Netanyahu government, committing genocide in Gaza, and, after it attacks Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, and Syria, now intends to destabilize the Horn of Africa,” he said.
“This is a major threat not only to the Horn of Africa but also to the entire continent,” Erdogan added, urging that decisions on Somalia’s future reflect “the will of all Somali people.”
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