Türkiye 'on side of peace,' President Erdogan says on Iran crisis

ISTANBUL

Ankara's stance regarding Iran is "clear," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding Türkiye is always on the side of peace, not war.

Türkiye) "stands for diplomacy, not conflict. It stands with peace and stability, not chaos and turmoil. It seeks rapprochement, not hostility," Erdogan said during an event in the capital Ankara for iftar -- the fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Noting the country's efforts for a ceasefire in Iran, Erdogan said that Ankara is making "intensive efforts to ensure guns fall silent, a ceasefire is achieved, and talks resume."

“We are trying to extinguish the fire before the flames grow larger, before the ring of fire spreads further, and before more lives are harmed and more blood is shed," he stressed.

Ankara cannot see others' suffering as its own gain, Erdogan said, adding the country would not seek to benefit from others' harm.

"We want the tears in our region to stop, the conflicts to end, and peace and calm to prevail," he stressed.

Slamming the Israeli administration's actions, Erdogan said: "Even Israelis, spending nights in shelters, now say (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is their biggest disaster since the Holocaust."

The US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which have killed more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as over 150 schoolgirls.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf countries hosting US military assets.