Iran and Turkey issue joint statement: 'We do not want it to turn into a war'

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is speaking at a joint press conference following his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

''A CLEAR VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW''

In his statement, Minister Fidan noted the following:

The tragedy in Gaza was our most important agenda item. The illegal siege that deprives our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza of their most basic rights unfortunately continues. People whose homes have been razed to the ground are being brutally and openly massacred before the eyes of the whole world. Refugee camps, schools, places of worship, and even hospitals are unfortunately being targeted. People are being displaced from their homelands.

''THERE CANNOT BE ONE STANDARD FOR UKRAINE AND ANOTHER FOR PALESTINE''

As Turkey, we have always stated on every platform that we do not approve of attacks targeting innocent civilians, regardless of who carries them out or for what purpose. Since October 7, we have been engaged in intense diplomatic traffic with relevant parties, including Westerners. We base our actions on acting in a principled and fair manner in every issue. There cannot be one standard for Ukraine and another for Palestine. If we want a just world, we must always act in a principled and consistent manner.

EMPHASIS ON AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE

We believe that an International Peace Conference would be the most appropriate platform for this task. As Turkey, we are determined to do our part for the establishment of a ceasefire first, and then a lasting peace, in coordination with our friends. We are also ready to take responsibility as a guarantor in the implementation phase of an agreement to be reached. The goal of all these efforts is the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with geographical integrity, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The path to peace for both Palestine and Israel lies through a two-state solution.

THE PRICE WILL BE HEAVY

Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian, for his part, drew attention to the following in his speech:

I thank Turkey for the support they have shown against the displacement of the people of Gaza and regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid. If the war is not stopped, the responsibility for the situation in the region spiraling out of control lies with the US, Israel, and those who support war crimes. The Zionist regime continues to kill women, children, and civilians in Gaza, primarily through genocide and war crimes. If the attacks against women and children in Gaza continue, the consequences will be very severe, and those who support them will pay a heavy price.