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Türkiye’s foreign minister urged the United States to resolve its disputes with Iran step by step rather than through a comprehensive deal.
The minister warned that broader demands could be counterproductive and humiliating for Iranian officials while saying Tehran is ready to resume talks on its nuclear program.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye opposes any foreign intervention or attack on Iran, calling such a move “wrong.”
“My advice always to the American friends: close the files one by one with the Iranians. Start with nuclear, close it, then the other, then the other,” Fidan said.
He added that presenting all demands as a package would be difficult for Iranian officials to accept and explain to their leadership.
Fidan’s remarks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that the United States had an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope that military action would not be necessary.
Fidan said Iran is ready to negotiate its nuclear file again, despite limited progress in previous talks. Tehran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
In June, the United States struck Iran’s nuclear facilities amid escalating regional tensions linked to the Gaza war.
Trump has repeatedly said the strikes destroyed Iran’s nuclear program, while Iran maintains its right to nuclear enrichment.
Beyond the nuclear issue, U.S. officials have said Iran should reduce its missile program and end support for allied non-state actors in the region, including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran recently carried out a crackdown on anti-government protests, leading to thousands of deaths and arrests.
Iranian officials blamed the unrest on armed groups linked to the United States and Israel, while rights groups described the demonstrations as the largest since the 1979 revolution.
The United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East, including deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf.
Trump has continued to warn Iran against restarting its nuclear program or harming protesters, while keeping the possibility of diplomacy open.
Fidan said Türkiye, a NATO member that shares a border with Iran, has been in contact with both U.S. and Iranian officials and believes Iran should be allowed to address its domestic issues independently. He warned that any further destabilization would exceed the region’s capacity to manage.
Fidan said Iran could play a constructive role in the regional order if trust is built, urging regional cooperation despite differences in ideology and sect.
“They need to create trust in the region,” he said, adding that countries in the region must work together within the nation-state system.
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