Erdogan: War must be stopped 'before it engulfs entire region in flames'

The war raging in the Middle East must be stopped before it engulfs the entire region at increasing cost to the global economy, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

"This war must be stopped before it becomes bigger and completely engulfs the region in flames," he said, describing the Middle East as "once again enveloped in a smell of blood and gunpowder".

"If diplomacy is given a chance, this is entirely possible," he insisted, a day after Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi effectively ruled out negotiations with Washington, saying Tehran had had "a very bitter experience of talking with Americans".

"If this senseless, lawless and irregular war continues, there will be more loss of life and property, and the cost to the global economy will increase even further," Erdogan added, saying Turkey was pursuing efforts to find a diplomatic solution.