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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his stance condemning Israel’s attacks on Iran, as diplomatic efforts intensified to arrange talks aimed at ending the war.
“The firm stance of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, my dear brother Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in condemning the aggressive Zionist regime (Israel) is commendable,” Pezeshkian said in a message shared on the social media platform X.
Pezeshkian also praised the Turkish people for their solidarity with Iran.
“The firm stance of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, my dear brother Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in condemning the aggressive Zionist regime (Israel) is commendable. The brotherly Turkish nation has played an important role in solidarity with the Islamic ummah for many years. We will continue on this honorable path with divine grace,” he said.
Meanwhile, a "breakthrough" is expected within 48 hours regarding potential talks between the United States and Iran to end the war, but Tehran remains reluctant to join negotiations without certain guarantees, sources in Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told Anadolu on Wednesday.
"Efforts are underway on the part of Pakistan, Türkiye, and Egypt to woo all stakeholders, mainly Iran, which is still reluctant to hold talks without certain guarantees," a ministry official said.
Top Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, are in constant contact with Iranian leadership to persuade Tehran to join talks, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The official said Tehran is insisting on guarantees that there would be no future military operation against Iran, that its missile program would not be included in negotiations, and that Tehran would be compensated for losses "inflicted" by the United States and Israel.
Sharif said Tuesday that Islamabad is ready to host "meaningful and conclusive" talks between the United States and Iran for a "comprehensive settlement" to end the war in the Middle East.
Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Asim Munir also spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday about the ongoing war, and Pakistan has proposed hosting a possible summit between senior Trump administration and Iranian officials as part of diplomatic efforts.
On Monday, Sharif spoke with Iranian President Pezeshkian, calling for "collective" efforts for de-escalation and a return to dialogue and diplomacy among neighboring countries.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday he expects the United States and Iran to hold talks this weekend in Islamabad, adding that negotiations are likely to be broader in scope.
Speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Grossi said discussions are expected to cover missiles, Iranian-aligned militias and security guarantees for Tehran.
“This time, there will also be missiles, militias allied with the Islamic Republic, and security guarantees for Iran on the table,” he said.
U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28 have so far killed more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
At least 13 U.S. servicemen have been killed and dozens more wounded during the ongoing conflict.
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