Message from Hakan Fidan on Iran: 'Turkey will always protect itself'

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who met with representatives of media organizations for iftar in Ankara, made assessments regarding developments in the region. Fidan made statements concerning the situation that emerged following Iran's attacks on US bases and potential scenarios.

STATEMENTS FROM FOREIGN MINISTER HAKAN FİDAN ON THE WAR

Stating that the most negative scenario under current conditions is the escalation of the conflict, Fidan drew attention to the risk of "the conflict continuing to escalate and the creation of an environment of instability that draws the entire region, along with Iran, into it."

"WE DELAYED THE START OF THE WAR"

Expressing that Turkey has made efforts to prevent the war, Fidan said, "War was the issue we worked to avoid. We fought for this. We honestly offered creative solutions as well. We even delayed the start of the war. In fact, the war would have started earlier; we delayed it a bit more with these efforts. Perhaps it could have reached a result, but they preferred to return to the old method."

"IT SEEMS THE ANSWER IRAN EXPECTS WILL NOT COME"

Stating that Iran aims to put pressure on the US with the attacks, Fidan used the expressions, "It seems the answer Iran expects will not come... Iran might say, 'let them bomb these places so they put pressure on America and stop the war,' but it seems that will not happen."

Making an assessment regarding Iran's military capacity, Fidan said, "I don't know how much Iran has left in its hands... However, Iran can truly disturb Israel with missiles and drones if it uses them seriously."

Stating that they see different factions of Kurdish groups coming together to form an alliance and making joint statements, Fidan said, "We are following all of it: how much they will fight the regime, how much they will fight other ethnicities in the places they are located, what will happen, what they are targeting, and what will come of it."

Responding to a question about a potential risk to Northern Cyprus, Fidan stated, "I do not think there is much risk for Northern Cyprus as of now. I also think the risk in the South is limited, very limited. There may not be much for civilian facilities."

WILL GULF COUNTRIES RESPOND TO IRAN?

Stating that there are allegations that regional countries are responding to Iran, Fidan said, "Of course, they do not officially declare it, but there are some allegations that regional countries are responding to Iran. We hear these allegations too. This could also be true."

Responding to a question about a potential threat to Turkey, Fidan used the expressions, "I am speaking independently of the Iran issue: Turkey will always protect itself. We possess both the will and the capability necessary for this."

ARE THE PARTIES CLOSE TO NEGOTIATION?

Stating that the negotiation process is not single-layered, Fidan said, "There is actually no single-layered negotiation here; there is a multi-layered negotiation. First, can we bring the warring parties back to the table? When will the attacking side stop its attack, or is it ready to stop? The minimum for this is to reach a level of military insufficiency that satisfies them. The minimum condition to stop the war... And the maximum is regime change."

IS A MIGRATION WAVE EXPECTED FROM IRAN?

Speaking about the possibility of migration from Iran to Turkey, Fidan stated, "Currently, Iran is not letting its own citizens out across the border. Iran is not allowing it right now. Therefore, no one is coming to us from Iran at the moment."