Turkish FM holds calls with counterparts on Middle East war, de-escalation efforts

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held separate phone calls with his counterparts from China, Syria, Qatar, and Uzbekistan to discuss the course of the ongoing war in the region and efforts to stop it, diplomatic sources said.

According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan spoke with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al Shaibani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Bakhtiyor Saidov, Uzbekistan’s foreign minister.

The discussions focused on "the trajectory of the war in the region" and ongoing initiatives aimed at "halting hostilities" in the war, which started on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran.

Fidan also spoke over the phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the latest situation in the region, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

During the phone call, the two ministers emphasised that the ongoing war in the Middle East must be brought to an end as soon as possible and discussed efforts in this regard, according to the sources.

The two ministers noted that the uninterrupted functioning of transportation routes, energy supply, and supply chains is critical.

Both sides also discussed bilateral agenda items, particularly economic and trade relations, as well as mutual investments.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Fidan has been busy making diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. He has held numerous phone calls with his counterparts from the region, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as US and EU officials.