Turkish foreign minister urges Iran to avoid expanding the war

Fidan said Turkey will continue its diplomatic engagement with both sides as it seeks to contain the conflict.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Turkey’s foreign minister on Thursday urged Iran to avoid expanding its war with the United States and Israel across the Middle East, while Qatar’s prime minister condemned recent Iranian strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure, according to statements delivered in Doha.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara is offering Iran “friendly advice” to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region.

He said attacks by Tehran on neighboring countries are unacceptable, even as he described Israel as the primary driver of the war.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Fidan said Iran carries “historic responsibility” not to target countries in the region.

He added that Turkey remains in contact with both Washington and Tehran in an effort to understand their positions and continue diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

Sheikh Mohammed focused his remarks on recent Iranian strikes targeting Gulf energy facilities, including Qatar’s main gas hub.

He condemned the attacks, citing the damage caused to the Ras Laffan facility.

“This attack has serious consequences for global energy supplies. Such attacks bring no direct benefit to any country — rather, they harm the population and directly affect it,” he said.

The Qatari prime minister also rejected Iran’s explanation for the strikes, saying Doha does not accept claims that Wednesday’s attacks on its gas facilities were intended to target U.S.-linked sites.

According to the statements, the strikes were part of a broader wave of Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf states carried out the previous day.

Fidan said Turkey will continue its diplomatic engagement with both sides as it seeks to contain the conflict, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation across the region.

The remarks from both officials reflect growing regional concern over the impact of Iranian strikes on neighboring countries and critical infrastructure as the conflict continues.