Erdoğan: Region paying 'heavy economic price' for Iran attacks

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned on Friday that the Middle East is suffering severe economic consequences from attacks targeting Iran, speaking at a ceremony in Türkiye's northwestern city of Edirne as regional tensions continue to disrupt markets.

Compounded economic pressures

Erdoğan said the economic strain on regional economies has intensified amid ongoing military operations. "Before the Russia-Ukraine war has ended, our region is now paying the heavy economic price of attacks on Iran," he said at the opening ceremony, underscoring the compounded pressure on markets already disrupted by the European conflict.

Gaza and Lebanon violence

The president also condemned ongoing violence in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, accusing Israel of violating international norms. "In Gaza and Lebanon, Zionist killers continue to shed blood by trampling on every law, rule and principle," Erdoğan said, adding that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the hostilities.

Ceremony in northwestern Türkiye

Erdoğan spoke during the inauguration of a facility in Edirne, a city near Türkiye's borders with Greece and Bulgaria, as Ankara maintains its calls for an immediate ceasefire across the region. The event marked the latest in a series of public appearances where the president has addressed regional security and economic stability.