Erdogan engages five Muslim leaders, intensifies diplomatic push to restore peace in Middle East

* Slams Israel for attacking Iran, says Netanyahu biggest threat to regional stability

Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was on Saturday in series of phone conversations with Muslim leaders from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan, addressing the conflict between Israel and Tehran, as well
intensifying diplomatic push to restore peace in Gaza, by extension, the Middle East.

Iran

During the phone call with with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, President Erdoğan strongly condemned Israel’s unlawful attacks on Iran and extended his condolences to the Iranian people over the loss of lives.

Stating that Israel’s attacks constitute a clear violation of international law and aim to drag the entire region into conflict, President Erdoğan emphasized that Netanyahu is attempting to sabotage the nuclear negotiation process through these attacks.

President Erdoğan noted that Israel is trying to divert the world’s attention away from the genocide in Gaza with its attacks on Iran.

Underlining that Türkiye is closely monitoring developments regarding the potential nuclear leak at the Natanz facility, President Erdoğan added that diplomatic processes are the only solution to the nuclear dispute

Saudi Arabia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as broader regional and global issues, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications.

During the conversation on Saturday, President Erdogan warned that Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, poses the “biggest threat to the stability and security of the region”.

He said this had been demonstrated once again through Israel’s recent attack on Iran.

Erdogan emphasised that Israel must be stopped in order to reduce tensions. He also criticised the international community for “turning a blind eye to the occupation and genocide in Palestine”, saying this silence has emboldened Israel’s “lawless and aggressive” actions.

Pakistan

Speaking to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the phone, Erdogan said that silence over occupation and genocide in Palestine empowered Israel’s actions in Iran.

Israel’s attacks on Iran were “unacceptable”, Erdogan said, adding the attacks seriously damaged regional security. He warned that Tel Aviv posed a threat to global stability and security.

The Turkish president noted that the attacks by Israel undermined efforts to reach a resolution on Iran’s nuclear programme.

He highlighted the importance of not allowing Israel to use these attacks to overshadow the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Egypt

Erdogan called his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el Sisi, and said Israel’s attacks “seriously” harmed regional security and that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s lawlessness threatened global stability, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said on X.

Erdogan said Netanyahu government’s disregard for international law posed a global threat to stability.

Stressing that the region could not afford another crisis, Erdogan warned that Israel was trying to derail efforts for a nuclear deal with Iran.

He underlined the importance of continuing the talks, which were mediated by Oman, and reiterated that Israel’s attacks on Iran should not be allowed to overshadow the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The sixth round of Iran-US nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Muscat has been called off, Oman’s foreign minister confirmed on Saturday.

Jordan

Erdogan and Jordanian King Abdullah II discussed over the phone the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which began with Israeli attacks on Iranian territories, claiming the lives of civilians as well as high-ranking military officers, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said.

Israel’s attacks on Iran constituted a provocation that could seriously harm the region’s security, Erdogan warned, stressing that “the aggressive and lawless stance” of Israel and the government led by Netanyahu created a global issue for stability and security.

Noting that the global community’s silence on the occupation and genocide in Palestine enabled Israel’s aggression to escalate to this level, Erdogan said these attacks undermined efforts to resolve the issue over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Any potential nuclear leakage resulting from Israel’s strikes threatens civilians as well as regional and global health—an issue Israel was disregarding, he added.

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