Turkey relays messages between Iran and U.S. in push for de-escalation
- 23 hours ago
- 1 min read
Riyadh, March 25, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Turkey is relaying messages between Iran and the United States as part of efforts to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations, Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, told Reuters on Wednesday.
Armagan said the messages were also being conveyed to Gulf states caught up in the widening regional war sparked by the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, but did not provide further details.
His remarks came as Iran’s military rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Washington was in negotiations to end the war.
Turkey had sought to mediate between Washington and Tehran before the attacks began nearly a month ago and has repeatedly called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Ankara was conveying what he described as “friendly” advice to Tehran to avoid widening the war, while also staying in contact with Washington.
A Turkish diplomatic source said on Sunday that Fidan had spoken with U.S. officials and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, among others, about possible steps to end the war. Reuters also reported that three Iranian missiles bound for Turkey had been downed by NATO air defences since the conflict began.
