Fidan holds calls with regional, European counterparts on Iran war

ANKARA

Türkiye’s foreign minister held a series of phone calls with counterparts from the Middle East and Europe to discuss efforts to halt the ongoing war involving Iran, diplomatic sources said Monday.

Hakan Fidan spoke separately with Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty, Norway’s Espen Barth Eide and Saudi Arabia’s Faisal bin Farhan, focusing on initiatives to end the conflict, the sources said.

In a separate call with Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar, the two sides exchanged views on the latest developments.

Fidan also held talks with Germany’s Johann Wadephul, with discussions centering on efforts to bring the war to an end.

The regional escalation has continued since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran. Tehran has since retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Fidan has intensified diplomatic contacts in recent days, including outreach to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi as well as U.S. and EU officials, as part of Ankara’s efforts to de-escalate the conflict.