Türkiye’s foreign minister has stated that foreign airstrikes would not lead to the collapse of the Iranian government, and urged that diplomatic engagement, not military action, is the way forward amid escalating tensions involving Tehran, Washington and other regional actors.
In a televised interview, Hakan Fidan said that while external military pressure might weaken Iran’s institutions, it would not successfully overthrow the government. He described the notion that an air campaign could topple Tehran as unrealistic and warned of broader regional destabilisation if military options were pursued.
Fidan’s remarks come as U.S.–Iran negotiations over nuclear and security issues have been resuming after months of stalled talks, including recent engagement in Oman. He stressed that the Middle East “cannot withstand another war” and that Ankara wants to avoid an escalation that could draw in multiple states.
The Turkish minister reiterated Ankara’s position opposing any military intervention in Iran, saying such actions would fuel instability across the region. He emphasized Turkey’s preference for dialectic and step-by-step negotiation, particularly on contentious issues like Iran’s nuclear programme.
Fidan also pointed to ongoing diplomatic contacts between Turkish, American and Iranian officials. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has updated Türkiye on the status of talks with Washington, according to Turkish officials.
The comments follow renewed international concern about Iran’s internal unrest, heavy protest activity and threats from some global actors that have raised fears of military confrontation. Despite this, Ankara is advocating restored negotiation channels as the most effective way to ease tensions, a stance broadly aligned with other regional diplomacy efforts.