ISTANBUL
Kazakhstan confirmed it is ready to provide a venue for peace talks to end the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran, as its top diplomat held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart.
The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the current situation in the Middle East and exchanged views on key issues of bilateral cooperation.
Kosherbayev expressed concern over the situation in Iran and confirmed Kazakhstan's readiness to host peace negotiations in the city of Turkistan, as previously proposed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the ministry said.
"In addition, it was agreed to continue the dialogue on relevant issues of the bilateral relations," the statement added.
Last week, Tokayev said during a speech in the country's southern Turkistan region that while Kazakhstan does not seek a mediating role, it is ready to provide a platform for peace talks on Iran, which he said could be held in the region's administrative center of the same name.
For nearly a month, the US and Israel have carried out an air offensive on Iran, killing over 1,340 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.