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Tom Barrack, the United States ambassador to Ankara and special representative for Syria and Iraq, said Türkiye has emerged as one of Washington's closest allies, crediting Ankara with playing a significant role in recent efforts to open dialogue with Iran.
"Türkiye has become a very good friend of America," Barrack said. "In times as difficult as these, when tensions are high, that's when you find out who your real friends are."
Barrack made the remarks in New York while answering questions from the Ihlas News Agency during a round of meetings in the city.
Barrack referenced a meeting held the previous day with Iranian officials, describing it as part of a broader, still-unfinished diplomatic process.
He said every step taken toward dialogue, and every opportunity explored, represented movement in the right direction, and credited Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's Middle East special envoy, with encouraging the effort.
According to Barrack, additional meetings are now taking place, which he called the right course of action for all sides involved.
He said Türkiye had played a very important role in the process, adding that he personally maintains strong relationships with all parties and has a solid understanding of the region's culture. "This is a process, not something that gets resolved in one sitting," he said.
Asked about the prospects of reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran, Barrack said he remained optimistic, "because we have to be. We don't have another option."
He pointed to cultural differences between the sides but said both had taken what he described as a bold stance from their own perspectives. The immediate task, he said, is to find common ground between the parties.
"I think everyone is ready. The region is ready, America is ready. I hope the Iranian side is ready too," he said.
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Barrack also discussed a brief exchange between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump at a dinner Trump hosted the previous evening in honor of visiting heads of state.
He described the interaction between the two leaders as genuinely strong, saying they hold great respect for one another and share an unusually close rapport despite their cultural differences.
Barrack said that dynamic has made his own work easier, describing himself as "a modest person" operating on the ground between the two countries, and noting that the two leaders communicate with each other very effectively.
Barrack's comments came during a period of high-level diplomatic activity in New York, with Trump hosting a dinner for multiple heads of state. He did not elaborate further on the substance of the Iran talks or provide additional detail on next steps in the process.
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