In the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered Ankara’s support in reviving diplomacy between Iran and the United States. His proposal, made during high-level discussions at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, comes as the region teeters on the edge of a broader conflict.
Erdogan told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Turkey is ready to facilitate both technical and leadership-level nuclear talks. According to the presidential statement, Turkey continues to oppose Israel’s aggression in Iran as it did in previous assaults on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The meeting, held behind closed doors, focused on the Iran-Israel conflict and broader regional dynamics.
The airstrikes, launched on June 13, targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, airbases, and command centers. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes. Iran’s Health Ministry reported over 400 deaths and 3,000 injuries, while Israel claims at least 20 citizens have been killed and more than 1,200 wounded.
During a separate meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Army Chief General Asim Munir, Erdogan warned that the regional impact of Israeli attacks could destabilize Iran’s neighbors. He emphasized that Turkey and Pakistan are directly at risk and called for renewed US-Iran diplomacy, according to Russian media outlet 1Prime.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in an interview “We did not have any indication or proof that there is an ongoing weaponization effort,” referring to Iran’s nuclear program, according to Truthout.
According to Tehran Times, this admission aligns with past US intelligence assessments, including a 2023 national estimate that found no verified sign of an Iranian nuclear weapons effort. As reported by Truthout, former President Donald Trump dismissed those assessments, saying, “I don’t care what the intelligence says.” The contrast between professional intelligence findings and Israeli claims has fueled international criticism over the justification for escalation and undermined the US narrative of imminent nuclear threat.
In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy cited remarks by Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating that Iran was not seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. “What we reported was that we did not have any proof of a systematic effort (by Iran) to move toward a nuclear weapon,” Grossi said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also expressed openness to dialogue. As reported by Turkish state-owned TRT Russian, the broadcaster’s Russian-language service. He welcomed Erdogan’s offer in a phone call where both leaders discussed technical diplomacy and efforts to contain the conflict.
The Turkish president also directed criticism at Western governments, stating that their silence in the face of Israel’s attacks signals complicity. According to Russian Media Outlet Vzglyad, Erdogan warned that without international restraint, unchecked Israeli aggression could push the region toward large-scale war.
While Washington has refrained from public comment, European officials have offered cautious support for a ceasefire. As Reuters reported, France and Germany backed renewed diplomacy, while the United Nations called for immediate de-escalation.
Russia has voiced strong support for Turkey’s mediation efforts, praising Ankara’s independent stance and engagement with both Tehran and Washington. The Kremlin has consistently promoted multilateral diplomacy in the Middle East and denounced what it sees as Western double standards aimed at isolating Iran under the pretext of nuclear concerns.
Analysts say Turkey’s dual access to both Tehran and Washington gives Ankara a strategic edge in de-escalation efforts. Erdogan’s initiative is seen not only as an assertion of Turkey’s growing regional clout but also as a counterweight to what many view as reckless Israeli military adventurism and the US’s politically driven interference in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
If accepted, Turkey’s plan would involve hosting renewed talks aimed at reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the US unilaterally abandoned in 2018. Erdogan’s office confirmed that Ankara is prepared to host delegations from both nations in either Ankara or Istanbul.
As Israeli and Iranian forces exchange fire with mounting intensity, the need for a diplomatic breakthrough grows ever more urgent. Erdogan’s mediation offer may be one of the few remaining options to avert a regional catastrophe shaped by reckless Israeli actions and Western indifference.
