Ankara, Aug 18 (V7N)- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged US President Donald Trump to continue diplomatic talks with Iran to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. He also offered Turkey’s cooperation in efforts to establish peace between the two countries.
Erdogan made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Trump on Tuesday (August 18), according to a statement from the Turkish presidential office.
The two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the situation in Gaza, the recently signed Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defense agreement and bilateral relations.
During the call, Erdogan stressed the importance of making full use of diplomatic channels to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran. He said talks between the two countries should continue and that Turkey was ready to contribute to any initiative aimed at achieving peace.
The Turkish president also raised concerns over the situation in Gaza. He said Israel has continued military operations against Palestinians despite the second phase of Trump's peace plan.
According to Erdogan, Israeli military operations against Palestinians have intensified ahead of the second phase of the Gaza peace process. He said Turkey would continue supporting efforts to establish lasting peace in the Middle East and rebuild Gaza.
Erdogan also emphasized the need for stronger international efforts to ensure the reconstruction of Gaza alongside efforts to establish a permanent peace.
Earlier on Sunday (August 16), Trump welcomed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. He said the agreement would contribute to greater unity among Middle Eastern countries and strengthen their ability to ensure regional security.
Against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts to ease US-Iran tensions, Erdogan's latest initiative signals Ankara's willingness to play a more active role in regional peace efforts.
Turkey has also been involved in diplomatic efforts concerning the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the US-Iran ceasefire, further highlighting Ankara's growing role in attempts to ease tensions in the region.
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