Erdogan says Türkiye pushing diplomacy on Iran tensions, calls for de-escalation

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Türkiye is making “necessary appeals and initiatives” to reduce tensions, extend the ceasefire, and continue talks over US and Israeli attacks on Iran, according to Anadolu Agency.

“The Israeli government, which is known to be unhappy with the ceasefire process, must not be allowed to sabotage it,” Erdogan said during his Justice and Development (AK) Party parliamentary group meeting.

“Negotiations cannot be held with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire must be utilized,” he said.

Erdogan also praised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, saying he “congratulates from the heart my dear friend Sanchez, who has taken a firm stance against the threats of butcher Netanyahu in Gaza.”

Regarding regional stability, he said: “If there is to be peace in our region, it will be despite the Zionist regime. If stability is achieved, it will again be despite the Israeli government.”

“We will continue to call the oppressor an oppressor, the pirate a pirate, and the killer a killer, and to be the voice of the children of Gaza and to listen to the cries of mothers whose hearts are burning,” he added.

Erdogan said Türkiye would also “continue to defend the rights of our brothers whose lands are occupied in the West Bank and to be the follower of the cause of children killed in their sleep in Lebanon.”

“We are always ready to be the voice of peace and to lead peace efforts with the principle of peace at home, peace in the region, and peace in the world,” he stressed.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criticism directed at him and Türkiye, Erdogan said: “I remind the ‘baby killers’ who speak against me and our country of some facts: The Republic of Türkiye is not an ordinary state.”

Stabil.Az