Turkish FM Fidan Warns Israel Is Seeking Opportunity to Strike Iran, Signals Possible Extension of Syria Ceasefire

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that Israel is actively seeking an opportunity to launch a military strike against Iran, cautioning that such an action would further destabilize an already volatile region. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV in an interview aired on Friday, Fidan said Ankara was closely monitoring developments and had directly conveyed its concerns to Iranian leadership.

“I hope they find a different path, but the reality is that Israel, in particular, is looking for an opportunity to strike Iran,” Fidan said. When asked whether his assessment applied equally to the United States, Fidan emphasized that Israel was the primary actor pursuing such a course.

Fidan said he had raised these concerns during a recent visit to Tehran, where he met Iranian officials. “When I went to Tehran, I told them everything about the process as their friend,” he said. “A friend speaks bitter truths.”

His remarks followed a phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday, during which Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s opposition to any foreign intervention in Iran and stressed Ankara’s support for Iran’s peace and stability.

The warnings come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that an “armada” of U.S. naval vessels was heading toward the Gulf region, reigniting fears of military escalation after briefly softening his rhetoric in recent days. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that any attack would be treated as “an all-out war,” vowing a forceful response to any violation of Iran’s sovereignty.

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In the same interview, Fidan also addressed developments in Syria, indicating that the ceasefire between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus could be extended beyond its scheduled expiration.

Fidan said the possible extension was linked to ongoing efforts to transfer ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq. “At the moment, ISIS prisoners are being moved from Syria to Iraq. In such an environment, the ceasefire may need to be extended a little longer. There is currently such a request,” he said.

The four-day ceasefire in northern and eastern Syria is due to expire soon. Fidan emphasized that Türkiye does not seek renewed conflict and prefers dialogue, noting that intensive diplomatic contacts are ongoing. Asked what would happen if talks fail, he said Ankara hoped there would be “serious will” to resolve the issue through diplomacy.

Türkiye has repeatedly stressed that stability in Syria, including the secure management of ISIS detainees, is critical to regional security and to preventing renewed violence along its southern borders.

Source: Al Jazeera, Reuters, NTV

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