ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged US President Donald Trump to give diplomacy the widest possible scope to ease mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran, while reaffirming Türkiye’s support for efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the region.
During a telephone conversation with Trump on Monday, Erdogan stressed the importance of making maximum use of diplomatic channels amid the tensions between Iran and the United States, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
The Turkish president expressed hope that negotiations between Washington and Tehran would continue and said Türkiye would maintain its support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations between Türkiye and the United States, as well as regional and global developments, according to an account of the conversation released by the Turkish presidency.
President @RTErdogan spoke by phone with President Donald J. Trump of the United States.
The leaders addressed the Türkiye-U.S. bilateral relations, as well as regional and global developments.
Stressing the importance of making maximum use of diplomacy in the tensions between…
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) August 17, 2026
Erdogan also highlighted the recently signed Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye saying the agreement demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening regional stability and security.
The Turkish president said the three countries were seeking to contribute to a more stable and secure regional environment through closer defence and security cooperation.
The discussion also covered the deteriorating situation in Gaza, with Erdogan drawing attention to an escalation in Israeli actions targeting Palestinians. He stressed that the developments were taking place at a critical time, as efforts were under way to advance the second phase of the Gaza peace process.
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Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s support for measures aimed at achieving a lasting peace in Gaza and across the wider region, while also expressing his country’s readiness to contribute to the reconstruction of the besieged Palestinian territory.
The call comes against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, increasing diplomatic pressure on regional powers to help prevent further escalation.
Erdogan has repeatedly advocated dialogue and diplomatic engagement as a means of resolving regional disputes. In his latest conversation with Trump, he again positioned Türkiye as a supporter of negotiations and broader international efforts to promote peace and regional security.
