Ankara (Turkey News): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian via telephone regarding recent regional developments, including missiles fired toward Turkey.
According to a statement from the Turkish Information Ministry, Erdogan emphasized that “there can be no justification for violations of Turkish airspace, and Turkey will continue to take all necessary measures against such actions.” The discussion followed a Turkish Defense Ministry announcement that a ballistic missile fired from Iran into Turkish airspace had been neutralized by NATO air and missile defense systems deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan told Pezeshkian that disputes in which Turkey is not a party are negatively affecting the country. He stressed that Ankara does not support “illegal interventions or Iran’s policy of targeting regional countries,” adding that targeting brotherly nations “is in no one’s interest and these actions must end.” He also called for reopening diplomatic channels and said Turkey is actively promoting diplomatic engagement in the region.
During the call, Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over the deadly attack on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, on February 28. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegeiseth confirmed that the United States is investigating the incident, while Israel denied involvement. The US-Israeli operations against Iran began on February 28, resulting in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top security officials. Erdogan offered condolences on Khamenei’s death and expressed hope that the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader would contribute to regional peace and stability.
Pezeshkian, for his part, stated that the missiles entering Turkish airspace were not of Iranian origin and Iranian authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
