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Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that Ankara is ready to play a "balancing and constructive role" in the post-war Middle East.
He called for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran conflict and warned that Türkiye "will not leave unanswered any threat directed at its territory or citizens," including Iranian missiles that have repeatedly entered Turkish airspace since the war began.
"Our country can play a balancing and constructive role in the post-war period. The initiatives undertaken so far clearly demonstrate this," Guler told Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper.
"Taking into account our geopolitical position, we aim to create a security belt and a context of stability around our country, contributing to international peace," he noted.
The Turkish defense minister also noted that the war is harming civilians, undermining regional peace and stability, and profoundly affecting the global economy.
He called for dialogue to establish a "lasting ceasefire" and resolve all disputes through peaceful means.
"The path to preventing tensions in our region from turning into a wider conflict runs through diplomacy and dialogue," Guler said.
"Regardless of current conditions, we believe there is still room for diplomacy and that it is still possible to resolve disputes between the parties through dialogue. We are available to contribute," he added.
Guler described Türkiye as "one of the few countries capable of engaging with both regional and Western actors."
Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that Iran's leadership had changed, Guler said Türkiye approaches the internal political processes of neighboring countries "with respect for their sovereignty."
He said lasting security "can only be achieved through an approach that reduces tensions and is based on international law."
On Iranian missiles entering Turkish airspace, which has occurred multiple times since the war began, Guler delivered a measured but firm warning by saying, "Türkiye will not leave unanswered any threat directed at its territory or its citizens."
"We have the capability, and also the will, to respond to any threat, both through national means and within the framework of the NATO alliance," he said.
He added that Türkiye's approach is "not to fuel escalation, but to manage risks with balance and responsibility, preventing a wider conflict."
The Turkish minister took a notably sharp tone on European Union military deployments around Greek Cyprus, where some EU states have positioned defense systems after Iranian missiles reached the island in the early weeks of the war.
"We believe that the deployment of defense systems around Cyprus, a name that in my opinion should be written in quotation marks, by the EU, under the cover of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, represents an attempt by the Greek Cypriot administration of the south and Greece to increase the military presence on the island and raise tension," Guler stated.
He said Türkiye remains "determined to protect the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people."
Guler also addressed concerns about Kurdish militant involvement in the Iran conflict, warning that attempts to exploit ethnic and religious fault lines could provoke far greater political and humanitarian crises.
"We are aware that terrorist organizations seek to exploit any power and security vacuums to expand their influence," Guler said.
"While respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighboring countries, Türkiye opposes the replication in Iran of the scenarios already seen in Iraq and Syria," he noted.
"We will not tolerate in any way the formation or strengthening of terrorist structures along our borders," he concluded.
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