Former Foreign Minister Gürel speaks harshly: 'Turkey must remain outside the war'
Rising tensions between the US and Iran in the Middle East have led to war. Former Foreign Minister and Zafer Party Foreign Policy Chair Prof. Dr. Şükrü Sina Gürel spoke to 12punto.
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‘WE MUST NOT ALLOW SUCH A THING…’
Regarding the possibility of Iran launching an all-out attack on US bases and including Turkey as a target after Israel, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, Gürel said, "I mean, I hope there is a mutual understanding between Turkey and Iran on this matter as well. Turkey must remain outside the war. One of the ways to pit Turkey against Iran is to view and portray Turkey as an extension of the United States. We must not allow such a thing." Continuing his remarks, Gürel evaluated the stance the current government in Turkey might take, stating, "I am concerned. I hope that some of the fundamental pillars that keep the Republic of Turkey standing are still intact."
‘IT WOULD BE A GREAT DISASTER FOR THE WORLD’
Regarding how the US-Iran war might unfold in the coming days, Gürel said, "Iran and the Iranian people have the experience and strength to withstand a long-term war. As you know, they even fought against Iraq for eight years. I believe Iran will have the strength to endure this now as well. What is actually important is how much Israel can withstand this. Last time, Israel could only hold out for twelve days. A portion of its population had already left the country. Therefore, I cannot speak definitively about what might happen this time. However, the worst-case scenario here is, of course, Israel being unable to withstand a long-term war and resorting to nuclear power. That would be a great disaster for both the region and the world."
WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA AND CHINA?
As Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev criticized the US and Israeli attack on Iran, the question of what stance China and Russia would take regarding the war came to the fore. Gürel stated, "I hope that Russia and China will take a constructive stance from now on and adopt an attitude that prevents the course of the war, that is, the development and spread of the war."
‘I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT’
Former Foreign Minister Prof. Dr. Şükrü Sina Gürel shared a striking comment on what the consequences of a possible Turkish intervention might be. Gürel said, "I don't even want to think about it."