UPDATES WITH PHONE CALLS WITH UAE, SPANISH, HUNGARIAN COUNTERPARTS; REVISES LEDE
By Mehmet Sah Yilmaz and Muhammet Tarhan
ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday held separate phone calls with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Spain, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Indonesia following strikes by the US and Israel on Iran.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan held phone calls with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono.
During the talks, the top diplomats discussed the latest developments in the region, as well as possible steps to be taken to end the attacks.
Israel and the US launched an attack against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the "Iranian regime." Video statements were released by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The attacks came as talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program had been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.
Israel also initiated a 12-day war on Iran last June, with the US joining later and bombing three Iranian nuclear sites.
*Writing by Berk Kutay Gokmen in Istanbul