Turkish Foreign Minister: Iran Open to Back-Channel Talks Despite Regional War

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Iran remains willing to engage in behind-the-scenes diplomatic discussions with the U.S., even as the Middle East conflict continues to escalate. Fidan spoke exclusively with the Associated Press about Turkey's efforts to stay neutral while attempting to mediate between warring parties.

Turkey’s top diplomat revealed Saturday that while no formal diplomatic efforts are underway between Washington and Tehran, Iran appears willing to participate in unofficial negotiations despite the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shared these insights during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, as Turkey works to maintain neutrality amid the expanding regional warfare.

Turkey, which maintains strong relationships with both the United States and Iran, had previously tried to broker peace between the two nations before American and Israeli forces struck Iran two weeks ago, escalating the current conflict.

“The conditions are not very much conducive” to diplomacy now, Fidan explained. He noted that Iranian officials “feel betrayed” after being attacked for the second time while actively participating in nuclear negotiations with America, though he added, “I think they are open to any sensible back-channel diplomacy.”

The 57-year-old Fidan previously led Turkey’s intelligence operations for over ten years before taking his current position in 2023.

During his intelligence tenure, he significantly influenced Turkey’s Middle Eastern policies, especially regarding Syria, Iraq and Iran. He remains among President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most trusted advisors and is viewed as a possible successor.

Turkey has adopted a neutral stance throughout the war, condemning both American and Israeli attacks on Iran as well as Tehran’s counter-strikes against Gulf nations hosting U.S. military installations. Fidan revealed he has been working to convince Iranian leadership to cease those retaliatory operations.

According to Fidan, Turkey’s main goal is avoiding involvement in the conflict, even after NATO defense systems intercepted three missiles over Turkish territory that appeared to originate from Iran. Turkey belongs to NATO, and a southern Turkish air base houses NATO forces, including American personnel.

Iranian leadership has denied targeting Turkey, though available intelligence indicates the missiles came from Iran, the Turkish foreign minister stated.

He dismissed the possibility of military retaliation at present, noting that NATO’s defensive systems proved effective and that Ankara’s “primary objective” remains staying out of the fighting.

“I know that we are being provoked and we will be provoked, but this is our objective,” he stated. “We want to stay out of this war.”

Fidan, who regularly communicates with Iranian officials, said he lacks detailed information about the extent of injuries sustained by Iran’s current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei during an earlier strike, but confirmed “what we know is that he is alive and functioning.”

Khamenei assumed leadership following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death on February 28 during the war’s initial phase.

Fidan explained that “the process of electing a new leader and the medical conditions of the new leader, it created a gap” in Iran’s power structure, adding “I think that gap has been filled by the high command of the Revolutionary Guards,” referencing the paramilitary organization that answers to the Supreme Leader.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Turkey attempted to prevent war by proposing Istanbul-hosted negotiations involving the United States, Iran and other regional powers. Iran subsequently chose Oman-mediated discussions without regional participation, focusing exclusively on nuclear issues — talks that eventually collapsed.

Fidan noted that Iran had declined to address its missile capabilities and the proxy armed organizations it supports throughout the region, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and various Iraqi militias — both groups now actively participating in the regional conflict.

Turkey had suggested that “the Americans and the Iranians can discuss fully the nuclear issue and we as regional countries can come together to discuss the other two with Iran” as part of a regional trust-building effort.

Relations between Turkey and Israel remain strained, with Erdogan emerging as one of Israel’s harshest critics regarding Gaza operations. Turkey has severed commercial relationships with Israel and regularly accuses the nation of genocide. Israel responds by claiming Turkey supports Hamas, the Palestinian organization responsible for the devastating October 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel.

Following Israel’s strikes on Iran, some observers have suggested Turkey might become the next target. Fidan rejected this possibility while acknowledging that the Iranian conflict has motivated Turkey to accelerate domestic weapons and air defense production.

“As long as Netanyahu is there, (Israel) will always identify somebody as an enemy,” he observed. “Because they need it to advance their own agenda. If not Turkey, they would name some other country in the region.”

He criticized Israel’s activities elsewhere in the region, particularly in Syria, where both nations have strategic concerns.

Turkey has strongly supported Damascus’s current administration under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly an Islamist rebel leader.

Israel views al-Sharaa’s government with skepticism and has seized control of southern Syrian territory since the government took power in December 2024, while conducting airstrikes against Syrian military installations and destroying much of the country’s weapons stockpile. Israel claims its Syrian presence aims to protect its borders from another October 7-style assault.

“They are after not security, they are after more land,” Fidan argued. “So as long as they don’t give up this idea, there will always be a war in the Middle East.”

Turkey has also pursued an active role in post-conflict Gaza planning. It has joined U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace — boycotted by numerous other nations that view it as an attempt to replace United Nations authority and criticize the absence of Palestinian representation — and has volunteered to provide troops for an international stabilization force in the devastated territory.

Fidan described Turkey’s Board of Peace participation as important, calling it an “opportunity” to end the war, though “we are not under the illusion that the Board of Peace will address all the existing issues.”

Fidan said Turkey has not yet received a troop contribution request for the stabilization force, which he attributed to Israeli opposition, but added, “I think the Americans are quietly trying to settle the issue with the Israelis to allow Turkey to participate.”

However, Fidan emphasized that Turkey’s priority involves establishing a Gaza administration committee composed of 15 politically independent Palestinian administrators.

“We expect them to go into Gaza and start their work,” he said. “This has not started yet, so we need to start from somewhere.”