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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged an immediate return to diplomacy in a call on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as tensions rose sharply following reported U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, according to Turkey’s Directorate of Communications.
In a statement, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan warned against further escalation and stressed that dialogue remained the only viable path to containing the crisis. He reiterated Turkey’s readiness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability and preventing a wider regional confrontation.
Erdogan also emphasized the need for close coordination between Turkey and the European Union, saying aligned and measured engagement would be critical in managing the unfolding situation.
The escalation follows strikes carried out Saturday by the United States and Israel against sites in Iran. Iranian state media said several senior figures were killed, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. There was no immediate independent confirmation of those reports.
Iran later announced retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, U.S. assets and locations in several Gulf states. U.S. and Israeli authorities had not publicly provided detailed operational assessments at the time of reporting.
A similar round of strikes last June led to a 12-day confrontation before a ceasefire was announced, underscoring the volatility of the regional security environment.
Diplomatic channels remain under scrutiny as international actors assess the risk of further escalation and its potential regional and global repercussions.
Written by N.J.