Erdogan backs US-Iran rapprochement, urges groundwork ahead of potential summit

• Erdogan urges diplomacy, warns against military action as US-Iran talks progress

President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is doing its utmost to prevent US-Iran tensions from dragging the Middle East into new conflict and chaos, and he called for groundwork ahead of any future leader-level talks, his office said.

Speaking to reporters on a return flight from Egypt, Erdogan welcomed efforts by Washington and Tehran to open channels of dialogue. He described the sides’ move toward “creating space for diplomacy” as positive and said it offers hope for defusing the crisis, according to a transcript of his remarks shared by his office.

Erdogan emphasized that high-level meetings between the US and Iranian leaders will be most effective after lower-level negotiations have been conducted, ensuring pending issues are clarified and a solid framework is in place.

The Turkish president also delivered a firm warning against military intervention, saying any such action would only bring destruction, and underscored the importance of diplomacy as the central path to reducing regional tensions.