ANKARA: The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed reports of an Israel-Iran ceasefire urging both sides to fully observe the truce.
“Türkiye will resolutely maintain its principled stance that upholds international law and prioritizes diplomacy,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the airport in Ankara ahead of his visit to the NATO summit.
“Israel’s ‘reckless actions — starting with Palestine and extending to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and ultimately Iran — are absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
Erdogan emphasised that the region cannot withstand the consequences of a war between Israel and Iran, calling for diplomacy to be given a chance to prevent further escalation.
He also stressed the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate cessation of Israel’s attacks, and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
“Global actors must take effective steps to put an end to this madness, or it won’t be just our region but the entire world that pays a price,” said Erdogan on the Mideast conflict.
Iran-Israel ceasefire
A fragile ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war appeared to be holding on Tuesday, after 12 days of strikes that saw Israel and the United States pummel the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump lashed out at both countries and cursed as he accused them of violating the truce; however, he said a ceasefire was holding.
In a fast-moving series of declarations, the US President, who was on his way to attend a NATO summit in The Hague, posted on his Truth Social app that “the Ceasefire is in effect!”
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt,” Trump wrote.
