Fidan urges world to counter Israeli sabotage as Iran truce tested

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the global community Thursday to be ready to respond “appropriately to Israel’s potential acts of sabotage” as a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran takes hold. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al‑Shaibani, Fidan warned that even before the ink on the truce had dried, Israel had launched large‑scale airstrikes on Lebanon, killing hundreds of civilians. “Tel Aviv is now extending its genocide in Gaza to Lebanon,” he said.

Ceasefire Prospects and Regional Architecture

While welcoming the two‑week pause brokered by Pakistan, Fidan cautioned that the temporary halt may not be sufficient, though it could be extended by mutual consent. He expressed hope that the upcoming US‑Iran talks in Islamabad, expected to begin April 11, would be conducted in good faith and produce a successful outcome. Fidan argued that the war and attacks on Iran were a mistake and that regional countries should resolve their problems through dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and cooperation rather than external intervention. He also called for a new security and peace architecture, including the normalisation of Iran‑Gulf relations on a stronger foundation, with Ankara ready to provide all necessary support.

Gaza, Syria and Israeli Expansionism

Fidan stressed that the world must not forget Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, noting that the first phase of the peace plan has seen insufficient aid and delays in establishing a technical administration. He said Hamas has largely fulfilled its obligations, while Israel has not kept its promises. On Syria, he insisted that the country must be shielded from the wider regional turmoil, and that Türkiye will continue supporting its stabilisation, reconstruction and national reconciliation. He concluded that lasting peace in the Middle East is impossible unless Israel’s expansionist policies are halted, urging the international community to act against Israeli attempts to create new facts on the ground in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.