Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan: Attacks in the Persian Gulf are harming peace efforts — calls for immediate halt

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday that reciprocal attacks in the Persian Gulf are seriously damaging peace efforts in the region, calling for an immediate halt. The remarks came as the U.S.–Iran conflict continues to escalate, with daily attacks paralyzing maritime traffic in the world’s two most strategic oil chokepoints.

Fidan stressed that Turkey values the stability of its neighbors and the region, and said Ankara is watching with concern the cycle of attacks and counterattacks between Iran, the United States and their allies. Without an immediate halt, he warned, every diplomatic effort to end the war risks being sabotaged.

Hakan Fidan during a diplomatic meeting with U.S. officials (file photo).

Turkey’s top diplomat also demanded that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz be guaranteed and that the key waterway be returned to its pre-war state — a demand that comes as maritime traffic in Hormuz has fallen to historic lows and oil prices have climbed above $106 a barrel.

Fidan’s call reflects growing concern among regional countries over the escalation: Saudi Arabia has issued urgent security warnings in several cities following Houthi attacks, Qatar has warned that a closure of Bab al-Mandab would be “catastrophic,” while Turkey is increasingly positioning itself as a voice of moderation between the parties.

Source: Al Jazeera