Trump Praises Türkiye for Staying Out of Iran War as Ankara Steps Up Diplomacy

U.S. President Donald Trump has praised Türkiye for remaining outside the Iran conflict, calling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a “great leader.” Meanwhile, Ankara is intensifying diplomatic efforts, with a planned four-country meeting and ongoing backchannel contacts aimed at de-escalating the war.

Trump: “Türkiye Was Fantastic”

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Miami, President Donald Trump commended Türkiye’s stance during the ongoing Iran war.

“I think Türkiye was fantastic. Actually, fantastic. And they stayed out of things that we asked them to. And he’s a great leader,” Trump said, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Trump also highlighted support from several Muslim-majority countries, including Indonesia and Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.

He suggested that geopolitical alignments in the Middle East are shifting, predicting broader participation in normalization frameworks such as the Abraham Accords.

Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan step up mediation to broker US–Iran truce

Regional Diplomacy Gains Momentum

Türkiye is simultaneously increasing its diplomatic engagement to contain the conflict.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that a quadrilateral meeting involving:

• Türkiye
• Pakistan
• Egypt
• Saudi Arabia

will take place in Islamabad over the weekend.

The meeting will focus on:

• Assessing the latest regional developments
• Evaluating ongoing diplomatic contacts
• Exploring pathways toward a ceasefire

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Backchannel Talks Underway

Fidan indicated that early-stage diplomatic contacts have begun, with Pakistan playing a key intermediary role.

“There seems to be some progress in negotiations. At least talks have started. Messages are being conveyed via Pakistan,” Fidan said.

He added that:

• The United States is coordinating communication efforts with Türkiye
• Ankara is relaying messages to Iran
• There is strong international demand for negotiations

Pakistan has reportedly delivered a 15-point U.S. peace plan to Tehran, underlining its growing role as a mediator.

Intensive Diplomatic Traffic

Turkish Foreign Ministry sources confirmed that Fidan held multiple high-level calls on March 27 with:

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
• Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
• Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty
• U.S. officials

The discussions focused on:

• The evolving military situation
• Diplomatic initiatives to end the war

Additional contacts with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and European counterparts are also ongoing.

Türkiye Seeks Ceasefire Window

According to sources familiar with Ankara’s strategy, Türkiye is pushing for:

• A temporary ceasefire
• A diplomatic window to launch formal negotiations

Ankara’s approach is based on acting as an intermediary when direct U.S.-Iran talks remain politically difficult.

A “Quiet Broker” Role Emerges

Analysts say Türkiye is positioning itself as a stabilizing actor rather than a decisive dealmaker.

Its role includes:

• Facilitating indirect communication
• Reducing risks of escalation
• Testing positions between parties

However, experts caution that:

• Message transmission alone does not guarantee agreements
• A lasting resolution will depend on both military dynamics and political will

Rising Regional Risks

The conflict’s spillover risks are increasing:

• Missile incidents near Türkiye’s borders
• Disruptions in regional energy flows
• Broader geopolitical fragmentation

This has heightened urgency for Ankara, which faces both security and economic risks from prolonged instability.

Outlook: Diplomacy vs Escalation

Türkiye’s diplomatic push comes at a critical moment.

Its effectiveness will depend on:

• Whether Washington and Tehran see value in de-escalation
• Whether battlefield developments favor restraint

For now, Ankara’s role is best described as:

• Managing tensions rather than resolving them

A Shifting Regional Balance

Trump’s remarks and Türkiye’s diplomatic activism highlight a broader shift:

• Regional powers are gaining influence
• Middle powers like Türkiye are emerging as key intermediaries
• Traditional alliances are being reshaped

As the conflict continues, Türkiye’s ability to balance neutrality with active diplomacy may prove crucial.