Erdogan, Sanchez discuss ties, regional peace in phone call

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held a telephone conversation Tuesday to review bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. The directorate posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal that the two leaders discussed cooperation between their countries. Erdogan noted that the solidarity between Türkiye and Spain, particularly in defense and across all fields, has been warmly received by their peoples, and both sides aim to further advance their strategic partnership.

Erdogan warns against Iran’s destruction, urges diplomacy

Commenting on regional tensions, Erdogan stated that Türkiye does not approve of efforts aimed at the “total destruction of Iran,” while also expressing concern over Tehran’s stance toward neighboring countries. He emphasized that “everyone with a conscience should embrace peace and focus on diplomacy.” The Turkish president warned that unless Israel’s actions in Gaza and elsewhere are blocked, “the region will continue to long for peace.” His remarks come as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to escalate, with more than 1,400 people killed since February 28.

Call to revitalize Russia-Ukraine negotiations

Erdogan also highlighted the importance of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that it is critical to “revitalize negotiations” and for the international community to approach peace-focused engagement more seriously. Türkiye has consistently mediated between Moscow and Kyiv, hosting direct talks and brokering the Black Sea grain deal. As Europe faces simultaneous conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Ankara continues to position itself as an indispensable diplomatic actor, urging all parties to prioritize dialogue over military escalation.