ISTANBUL/ANKARA

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday discussed "steps to end" the war initiated by US and Israel on Iran over a phone call with his counterparts from Egypt and Iran, as well as with US and EU officials, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Fidan held separate calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and officials from the US.

No further information on the calls was provided.

Since early March, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade, to most ships. The closure has driven up shipping and insurance costs, pushed oil prices higher, and raised global economic concerns.

Regional escalation has continued to flare since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, which it says are targeting “US military assets,” causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.