Turkey seeks off-ramp to war through US-Iran negotiations

Turkey is seeking an off-ramp to the war on Iran, engaging both the US and the Islamic Republic in an effort to initiate negotiations on a potential deal, sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.

On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a series of phone calls with his Iranian, Egyptian and European counterparts to discuss steps toward ending the conflict, according to sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The same day, Fidan also spoke with senior US officials, possibly including envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Later on Sunday, he held further discussions with his Saudi, Qatari, Iraqi and Pakistani counterparts, "evaluating initiatives" to halt the fighting, the sources added.

According to those familiar with Ankara's thinking, Turkey is pushing for a brief ceasefire to create space for negotiations.

The Turkish source told MEE that Ankara is attempting to build a unified front in negotiations to counterbalance Israeli influence, working with European, Gulf, and other regional actors to help end the conflict.

The source added that Iranian threats against Gulf energy infrastructure and desalination plants have alarmed countries across the region, creating an opportunity to reassess the situation.

The central challenge remains finding a path forward that satisfies both sides. Some Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and, to a lesser extent, Saudi Arabia, insist that Iran must not be able to impose a future chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

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