Türkiye opposes any foreign military intervention in Iran, says Fidan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has articulated Ankara's clear stance against foreign military intervention in neighboring Iran, calling on Tehran to address its internal challenges independently. Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on Thursday, Fidan emphasized that Türkiye does not want to see any external intervention in Iran's affairs, while analyzing the complex roots of the ongoing unrest.

A Nuanced Analysis of Iran's Unrest

Fidan provided a detailed assessment, arguing that the core driver of the protests is economic desperation, not a fundamental ideological uprising against the state. "What gets confused here is that the hardships people face due to economic and other difficulties can appear as an ideological uprising against the regime; in reality, this constitutes a grey area," he said. He attributed these economic problems to Iran's international isolation and sanctions, which restrict opportunities for its "large population and dynamic society."

Advice for Tehran: Diplomacy to Ease Sanctions

The Turkish minister directly linked Iran's domestic instability to its foreign policy, urging a diplomatic resolution to external disputes. He advised that Iran "should resolve its issues on the global nuclear matter through diplomacy without missing any opportunity, so that certain structural problems causing economic difficulties can be eliminated." Fidan implied that progress on issues like the nuclear dossier could lead to sanctions relief, thereby addressing the economic grievances fueling the protests.

A Warning and an Observation on US Policy

While firmly opposing intervention, Fidan also offered a cautious reading of US intentions. He stated that the current protests do not present a situation that would "whet the appetite" of countries hostile to Iran for regime change. However, he warned that the economic crisis created by current policies does give rise to serious problems. He also observed that in the policies of US President Donald Trump, "we have not seen a strong preference so far for the use of ground forces," suggesting a belief that Washington may be leaning toward economic pressure over direct invasion.