Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has issued a warning that attacks targeting Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain pose a threat to civilians and heighten the risk of escalating regional conflict. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, he emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to resolve ongoing tensions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan condemned any assaults on third countries not involved in the war, stressing that such actions endanger innocent lives and could lead to further conflict escalation. He reiterated Turkey's commitment to diplomacy as the sole means of achieving peace and resolving regional issues. Fidan also highlighted efforts made over recent months to establish negotiations and called for the war in the region to end promptly.

Fidan further noted that the current conflicts create an environment that terrorist organizations could exploit and warned about the potential disruption to global energy supplies due to escalating tensions. He criticized Israel's strategy in the region, which he described as creating instability and conflict, and stated Turkey's pursuit of diplomacy in collaboration with friendly nations to counter this approach.

He addressed Iran's longstanding issues with the United States over the nuclear issue, advising Iran to engage in negotiations with a genuine will to achieve stability and foster good relations with its neighbors. Fidan acknowledged Turkey's transparent and principled stance in the region amidst sanctions and other measures faced by Iran.

Fidan confirmed that active diplomatic engagements are ongoing with both regional and international actors, indicating a global consensus against the continuation of the war. He responded to questions about allegations of U.S. involvement with Kurdish groups in Iran by stating that Turkish intelligence and defense ministries are closely monitoring the situation. Fidan noted discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who denied U.S. involvement in such efforts.

Fidan criticized Israel's use of Kurdish groups as proxies in its regional strategy and expressed Turkey's opposition to scenarios that could ignite civil war in Iran, warning of the severe humanitarian consequences. He mentioned ongoing communication with regional leaders, including Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, to prevent further destabilization.