Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara opposes any military intervention against Iran and supports a peaceful internal resolution of the country's issues, whilst his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is ready to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States "on equal footing".
"We have told our counterparts at every opportunity that we are against a military intervention targeting Iran," Fidan said on January 30, speaking at a joint press conference with Araghchi in Istanbul. "We hope that Iran's internal issues will be resolved peacefully by the Iranian people without any external intervention."
Counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the US "on an equal footing". "If the negotiations are fair and on an equal footing, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate," he said, adding that Tehran has "never sought to obtain nuclear weapons".
Tensions have risen between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks, following US President Donald Trump's statements that a "massive armada" was moving towards Iran, alongside his call for Tehran to "come to the table" for negotiations.
Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a "swift and comprehensive" response, whilst reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as "fair, balanced and noncoercive terms".
"The illegitimate interference of outside actors, particularly the conspiracies of the Israeli regime, aim to destabilise the region," Araghchi said, stressing that "Islamic countries must act in unity". He said regional security is indivisible, adding: "We oppose any action that could destabilise peace and security."
Araghchi said Tehran attaches great importance to its partnership with Ankara, particularly in light of recent regional developments. "Turkey and Iran have always stood by one another in both difficult and easy times," he said, adding that bilateral relations are grounded in "fraternity and friendship".
Araghchi thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government and Fidan for their messages of solidarity following what he described as recent "terrorist attacks" in Iran, saying the incidents were "clearly directed by Israeli-linked elements".
He said Iran appreciated Turkey's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and promote peace in Gaza. "We thank President Erdogan and Hakan Fidan for their active role and support for Palestine," he said.
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