Istanbul (Turkey News) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over the suffering of civilians in Iran and stated that Turkey will intensify diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and restore peace in the region.
Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erdogan said, “We share the pain of the Iranian people. It is deeply saddening to see that in this conflict, innocent children and ordinary citizens are bearing the greatest burden.”
He pledged that Turkey would continue diplomatic contacts until a ceasefire is established. “We stand for peace, we want the bloodshed to stop, tears to end, and our region to attain the long-standing peace it has long yearned for,” Erdogan added. He emphasized that Turkey’s top priority is to ensure a ceasefire and keep negotiations open. “If necessary intervention is not taken, this conflict could have severe consequences for regional and global security. No economy or geography can endure such uncertainty; hence it is vital to extinguish this fire before it spreads further,” he warned.
The remarks come amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes that have killed several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran targeted US facilities in Gulf countries with drones and missiles, resulting in multiple casualties, including four US soldiers killed and four others critically injured. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the total number of fatalities from US and Israeli airstrikes since Saturday has reached 555.
