Fidan: US, Iran show mutual flexibility, warns against overreach or regional war

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has assessed that both Washington and Tehran are demonstrating genuine willingness to compromise in revived nuclear negotiations, with the United States signaling flexibility on its longstanding demand for a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment. Speaking to the Financial Times, Fidan stated that Iran “genuinely wants to reach a real agreement” and is prepared to accept caps on enrichment levels alongside a robust inspections regime—similar to its commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Compartmentalization Key to Progress

Fidan cautioned that coupling the nuclear file with Iran’s ballistic missile program or its regional militant networks would derail progress. “If the Americans insist on addressing all the issues simultaneously, the nuclear file will not move forward,” he warned. “The result could be another war in the region.” He noted that Ankara and other regional capitals are developing “creative ideas” to address Tehran’s missile arsenal and proxy activities separately, offering to play a “constructive and effective role.”

Netanyahu Factor and Regional Trust Deficit

Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House visit, Fidan expressed concern that Israel—which views military superiority as a “central priority”—would seek to harden Washington’s posture. He urged both parties to avoid repeating the 2015 mistake of excluding regional states from core negotiations. “There is a significant trust gap with regional countries, and addressing that dimension is essential,” Fidan stressed, adding that any US-Iran understanding must be paired with confidence-building measures toward Tehran’s neighbors.

Iran’s Domestic Calculations

Fidan assessed that recent mass anti-regime protests—the deadliest since 1979—have concentrated Iranian leaders’ minds. “They understand that the public unrest was driven largely by economic difficulties,” he said. “So they know that the sanctions issue needs to be resolved.” While President Donald Trump has dispatched additional warships and threatened military action, Fidan dismissed regime change as a realistic outcome of US strikes. “The regime as a political entity would be a functioning entity,” he stated.