Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that a potential United States attack on Iran would be a serious mistake, calling instead for renewed diplomacy between Washington and Tehran as regional tensions rise.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Fidan spoke as the United States continued deploying military assets to the Middle East, fueling concerns of escalation. He stressed that another war would destabilize the region and undermine prospects for long-term security. “It’s wrong to start the war again,” he said, while emphasizing that dialogue still offers a viable path forward despite increasingly sharp rhetoric on both sides.
Diplomacy remains possible
Fidan argued that a negotiated settlement is still within reach, noting that Tehran has signaled openness to restarting talks on its nuclear program. According to him, diplomacy should proceed step by step rather than through an all-encompassing deal that addresses every dispute simultaneously.
He advised US officials to prioritize issues incrementally, beginning with the nuclear file. Resolving one issue at a time, he said, would make agreements easier to implement and defend politically. By contrast, bundling all disputes together could overwhelm Iranian negotiators and create domestic resistance, making progress far more difficult.
Fidan also cautioned that overly broad demands might appear humiliating, complicating Tehran’s ability to justify compromises internally and to its leadership.
Regional trust and cooperation
Beyond nuclear talks, Fidan highlighted Iran’s broader role in the Middle East. He said Iran could occupy a constructive place in the regional order if it focused on building trust with neighboring countries. Perceptions matter, he added, because regional states will continue to coexist regardless of ideological or sectarian differences.
Finally, Fidan emphasized that cooperation within the nation-state system remains essential, urging regional actors to prioritize stability, mutual respect, and pragmatic engagement over confrontation.
