Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Tuesday to continue pursuing diplomatic talks with Iran in an effort to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran. Erdogan also offered Turkey's support for peace efforts, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency, as negotiations over a permanent end to the conflict remain stalled and concerns grow over further escalation in the region.
Turkey has repeatedly called for an end to the war and has maintained contact with the United States, Iran and countries involved in mediation efforts, including Pakistan and Qatar. Ankara's geographic position, sharing a border with Iran, and its role as a NATO member with the alliance's second-largest military have given it a significant interest in preventing the conflict from spreading. Turkey has sought to position itself as an intermediary capable of maintaining communication with the parties.
"Erdogan stated that it is of great importance to make the utmost of diplomacy regarding the tensions between Iran and the United States," the Turkish presidency said. The Turkish leader expressed hope that negotiations would continue and said Ankara would maintain its support for efforts aimed at achieving peace. His appeal came as diplomatic efforts faced renewed uncertainty and the two sides remained divided over the terms of any lasting settlement.
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The phone call followed a warning from a senior Iranian official on Monday that Tehran would shift towards a "fully offensive" military posture if negotiations aimed at permanently ending the conflict continued to fail. The official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts had stalled, while Washington had ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire arrangement. Iran has also warned that it could take military action if its demands and concerns are not addressed through negotiations.
The situation around the Strait of Hormuz has added another major complication. Progress towards restoring oil tanker traffic through the strategically important waterway has stalled, raising concerns over the potential impact on regional energy supplies and global markets. Turkey has called for the strait to be reopened and has sought diplomatic engagement on the issue. On Monday, Turkey's foreign minister discussed the reopening of the waterway and continuation of the ceasefire with his Iranian counterpart.
Ankara has taken a position that criticises the US and Israeli military assault on Iran while also condemning Iranian attacks against Gulf states. Turkey's approach reflects its effort to oppose further regional escalation without aligning itself entirely with either side of the conflict. The government has repeatedly stressed the importance of diplomacy and the restoration of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Erdogan and Trump also discussed broader regional and bilateral issues during their conversation, including relations between Turkey and the United States and the war in Gaza. They also discussed a defence pact involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Erdogan praised the agreement as demonstrating a "strong stance" in support of regional stability and security, according to the Turkish presidency.
The conversation comes at a critical moment for diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran-US conflict. Turkey's willingness to support negotiations reflects Ankara's broader attempt to use its relationships with both Western and regional powers to encourage de-escalation. With tensions remaining high, uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Iran warning of a more aggressive military posture, Turkey is seeking to keep diplomatic channels open while pressing Washington and Tehran to return to talks.
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