UPDATE 2 - Türkiye opposes 'any military intervention' against Iran: Foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY FIDAN

By Esra Tekin and Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye is opposed to "any military intervention" against Iran, said the Turkish foreign minister on Thursday, urging Tehran to resolve its "own internal problems by itself."

“When examined closely, there is no situation that would whet the appetite of some countries hostile to Iran abroad, in terms of hostility toward the regime. However, the economic difficulties created by existing policies, and the inability to alleviate them, do give rise to serious problems. We do not want to see any intervention here,” Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.

He added, referring to recent statements by the US president: “When you look at the policies of (Donald) Trump, we have not seen a strong preference so far for the use of ground forces.”

Speaking on the recent protests, he said that when a country faces sanctions, certain economic services become restricted, adding: “Iran has a large population and a dynamic society. It has sophisticated people with a very strong desire for life and for participation in social life. When you deprive such a society of certain opportunities, these kinds of problems emerge.”

He added: "What gets confused here is that the hardships people face due to economic and other difficulties can appear as an ideological uprising against the regime; in reality, this constitutes a grey area.”

Stressing the importance of Iran for Türkiye, Fidan said that everything related to Iran "concerns us," adding that Tehran solving problems with "certain actors" benefits Ankara.

***"Hopefully, the US and Iran will resolve this issue among themselves—either through mediators, other actors, or direct talks. We are closely monitoring the situation," he added.

Stating that he had urged his Iranian counterpart to resolve their problems with other countries, Fidan said: "It should resolve its issues on the global nuclear matter through diplomacy without missing any opportunity, so that certain structural problems causing economic difficulties can be eliminated."

Türkiye will continue to follow developments and its diplomatic efforts for Iran, he said.

- SDF still threatens region, Türkiye

The terrorist YPG/SDF continues to pose a "threat both to the region and to us," Fidan said, adding that Türkiye has no problems with Kurdish people in Syria, but it has a problem with a terror group that operates in four countries under different names.

"We want the March 10 agreement to be implemented," he said, referring to a pact that Türkiye and the Syrian government say the SDF has failed to abide by.

Fidan said Ankara is surprised to see some countries speak of "newly discovered" connections between the SDF and the terrorist group PKK, adding that their connection “has long been common knowledge."

Citing the recent violence in the city of Aleppo, he said: "On Aleppo, we warned that the process should not escalate to the use of weapons. This is a recurring pattern. Starting from Tel Rifaat and Ayn al-Arab, we made it clear that their presence there is illegal. If they wish to demonstrate goodwill, they must enter a process based on diplomacy and dialogue. They neither have the power nor the mindset to engage multiple actors and manage such a complex environment.”

"The representation of all minorities in the Syrian constitution is essential. The critical balance lies here: participating in the process as a separate political entity is the real problem. Living under a single flag while preserving one’s identity and benefiting equally from national resources is a more appropriate structure. Otherwise, dividing the country into political entities and creating enclaves would pave the way for fragmentation, which requires utmost caution," he added.

Fidan warned that if talks to implement the March 10 agreement between the Syrian government and YPG/SDG do not continue in good faith, Damascus may act.

“I hope issues are resolved through dialogue, but if dialogue fails, I see that the Syrian government may consider the use of force as an option to preserve unity and order," he said.

“If there is to be genuine goodwill, there must be a shift to diplomacy and dialogue-based problem-solving. Appearing to engage in dialogue merely to buy time or manage multiple agendas is neither realistic nor sustainable. A clear demonstration of goodwill is required," he underlined.

- If Ukraine deal is reached, Turkish naval forces will be in command in Black Sea

Fidan also said that if a Ukraine peace deal is reached, Turkish naval forces will be in command in the Black Sea.

"If a peace agreement is reached, it will have three dimensions: how the peace will be monitored, how Ukraine’s deterrence capacity will be sustained, and what measures will be taken in case of violations. Militarily, peace has three domains: land, air, and sea. The Black Sea is a region that directly concerns Türkiye," he added.

“Under the current planning, this responsibility has been entrusted to us. We will carry it out together with other willing countries. Our National Defense Ministry is working intensively on this. Air and land components will be led by other countries, including the UK and France," he said.

Fidan stated that after President Trump returned to power, the US shifted from a leading role to a more neutral position, which created new complications.

“While the Russia–Ukraine war was already a problem, the US position toward the end of the war produced an additional problem. European security has now become closely tied to Ukraine’s security, and whether this is strategically realistic must be assessed by military experts.”

"The Russia–Ukraine war and developments in transatlantic relations have made EU security increasingly questionable. Türkiye, led primarily by our President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) has exerted significant effort in this process. These efforts will continue into 2026," he said.

- Israel does not want to implement peace plan in Gaza

On transition to the second phase of the Gaza plan, Fidan stated that following the announcement by Trump’s Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the second phase has officially begun.

He noted that even slow progress is welcome, stressing that President Erdogan places extraordinary importance on humanitarian aid.

“The suffering of Palestinians, being left in the cold, without shelter, medicine, or food, deeply wounds our collective conscience.”

Fidan said it is well known that Israel is pursuing a systematic and deliberate policy and that the Netanyahu government is not genuinely committed to implementing the peace plan.

“Israel’s ultimate goal is the removal of Palestinians from Gaza. However, due to pressure from the international community, particularly regional countries and the US, the process has reached this stage.”

He underlined that the top priority in the second phase is for the Palestinian Technical Committee to assume governance of Gaza, followed by the establishment of a Peace Council and an executive body.

“We expect these mechanisms to become operational within the next few weeks. There will be challenges, but we and our partners will continue working to ensure the process is not derailed. We are entering a positive phase, but the risks and Israel’s intentions remain clear.”

- Türkiye's potential security alliances

On potential security alliances with Saudi Arabia or Egypt, Fidan said that regional stability depends on "qualified cooperation among regional states."

"Distrust enables external intervention and internal conflict. If regional countries commit to each other’s security, 80% of problems can be resolved," he said.

He noted that talks continue, but no agreement has yet been signed, adding that President Erdogan envisions a broader and more inclusive regional platform.

- Türkiye wants CAATSA lifted

Fidan explained that the F-35 issue stems from CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions, emphasizing that Türkiye’s efforts focus on lifting CAATSA entirely.

“Following the understanding reached between President Trump and President Erdogan, political will has emerged to remove this issue from the bilateral agenda. We are now working to overcome technical obstacles. This political will exists, and we hope to see CAATSA lifted.”

- Türkiye rejects any encirclement attempts

Fidan said Türkiye closely monitors all developments affecting national security, particularly encirclement attempts in the eastern Mediterranean.

“We reject such policies proactively. They serve no one’s interests and only deepen regional divisions," he said.

- Ankara does not accept fragmentation

Fidan said Türkiye supports territorial integrity and sovereignty in both Yemen and Somalia.

“Internal issues must be resolved through domestic consensus, but neither regional countries nor Türkiye accepts fragmentation," he vowed.

- Zangezur Corridor has strategic importance for Middle Corridor

Fidan underlined the strategic importance of the Zangezur Corridor for the Middle Corridor and for linking Nakhchivan with mainland Azerbaijan.

He confirmed that Türkiye and Azerbaijan are reviewing the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) framework, and that the ultimate goal is finalizing the Azerbaijan–Armenia agreement and advancing Türkiye–Armenia normalization.

“There is political will in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Türkiye. We support Prime Minister Pashinyan’s constructive role and believe this momentum must continue," he said.

On the latest developments regarding Greenland, Fidan said that Ankara is "closely" monitoring the tensions between the US and Denmark.

"We believe compromise is possible, though domestic politics play a role. The strategic implications are what matter most, and we will continue to follow the issue closely," he added.