Erdogan urges Trump to continue Iran talks, offers Turkey’s support for peace efforts

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Tuesday to pursue diplomatic talks with Iran to ease tensions between the two countries, offering Ankara’s support for efforts to restore peace.

Turkey, which borders Iran and has NATO’s second-largest military, has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict. Ankara has maintained contact with Washington, Tehran and mediators including Pakistan and Qatar, while seeking to facilitate dialogue between the parties.

Erdogan stressed the importance of making full use of diplomacy and expressed hope that negotiations would continue, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

The call came after a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran would shift to a “fully offensive” military posture as efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict stalled and Washington rejected an extension of a temporary ceasefire.

Efforts to resume oil tanker traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz have also faced delays. Turkey has criticised US and Israeli attacks on Iran while condemning Iranian strikes on Gulf states and calling for the strait to be reopened.

On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the reopening of the strait and continuation of the ceasefire with his Iranian counterpart.

Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral relations, the Gaza war and a defence pact signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Erdogan praised the agreement as reflecting a “strong stance” on regional stability and security.

According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan also told Trump that Israeli attacks on Palestinians had intensified as the second phase of Trump’s Gaza peace plan was expected to begin.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the conversation.