Navigating Middle Eastern turbulence: Turkey's role and influence in the region

During a joint press conference in Istanbul on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed strong concerns over what he described as Israel's "aggressive attitude," which, according to him, is forcing Iran to take "legitimate measures" in response. 

Fidan, speaking alongside his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, further warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was continually "opening new fronts" in the region, increasing the risk of the conflict expanding beyond current borders.

Fidan emphasized that "the risk of the war spreading to the entire region should not be underestimated" and accused Israel of deliberately attempting to provoke Iran into direct involvement in the conflict.

From Iran's perspective, Abbas Araghchi denounced Israel for committing "war crimes without limits," while reiterating Tehran's support for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" in both Gaza and Lebanon.

Regional Diplomatic Context

These remarks were made shortly after a Caucasus-focused meeting held in Istanbul on Friday, where Fidan met with the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The officials were briefly received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While Turkey has voiced strong support for the Palestinians since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, and taken an anti-Israeli stance, Ankara has not severed diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries continue to engage in dialogue, and there remains the possibility of a shift in Turkish diplomacy once the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon comes to an end.

Observers note that President Erdogan, known for his pragmatism, may recalibrate Turkey's position depending on how the situation unfolds.