Erdogan warns Israel against undermining US-Iran accord
Turkiye’s president said regional support is essential as Washington and Tehran pursue a Qatar- and Pakistan-brokered memorandum.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel should not be allowed to sabotage a developing United States-Iran agreement, warning that diplomacy in the Middle East needs support from regional powers to last. His remarks matter because Washington and Tehran are trying to advance a memorandum that includes a ceasefire and steps toward a final settlement after recent military exchanges.
Erdogan spoke on Saturday in Istanbul alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to AFP and Reuters. He said any settlement that lacks the backing and participation of countries in the region would not endure.
“We are closely following the Israeli administration’s attempts to dynamite the (U.S.-Iran) deal,” Erdogan said, according to the news agencies. He added that Israel’s current government should not be permitted to push the region back toward “gunpowder and blood.”
AFP and Reuters reported that Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of trying to weaken the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. They also reported that he has repeatedly denounced Israeli attacks in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Talks followed recent exchanges of fire
Delegations from the United States and Iran met in Qatar last week for indirect talks aimed at carrying negotiations forward, according to the report. Those talks came after recent exchanges of fire between the two countries.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would open a “communication channel” with Washington to report violations of the memorandum, AFP and Reuters reported. The channel is meant to address disputes over compliance as both sides continue to discuss the agreement.
The memorandum was brokered by Qatar and Pakistan, according to the report. It includes a 60-day ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, an understanding on Iran’s nuclear programme and a schedule for reaching a final deal to end the war permanently.
AFP and Reuters reported that the agreement remains contested. The United States and Iran carried out tit-for-tat attacks last week while each side argued over what the memorandum required.
Erdogan’s comments placed Turkiye publicly behind regional involvement in the diplomatic process and against any Israeli move that Ankara sees as a threat to the accord. His appearance with Sharif also underscored Pakistan’s role, alongside Qatar, in brokering the memorandum.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.