By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the Associated Press (AP) in an exclusive interview on March 14, that currently, no serious plans to resume negotiations exist between the U.S. and Iran. Fidan did say that he thinks Iran may be open to back-channel talks which are informal, unofficial and usually secret communication channels. This method is used by governments, organizations or individuals to negotiate or share sensitive information outside of formal diplomatic or public routes. Fidan reiterated that it’s key for Türkiye to stay out of the conflict despite Iran allegedly having fired three missiles that were intercepted over the country by NATO defenses. Since Turkiye is a NATO member, NATO forces use an air base in southern Turkiye that U.S. troops also use. Turkiye maintains good terms with both the U.S. and Iran and was involved in mediation efforts between the two, prior to the current war. As Fidan explained: “The conditions are not very much conducive” for diplomatic efforts at this point because he said the Iranians “feel betrayed” since they were attacked for a second time while in active negotiations with the U.S. about their nuclear program. Fidan added though, “I think they are open to any sensible back-channel diplomacy.”
Turkiye’s foreign minister has been actively involved in diplomacy efforts and previously served as intelligence chief for over a decade before his appointment as foreign minister in 2023. Fidan has been instrumental in shaping Turkiye’s policy in the Middle East, specifically with regard to Syria, Iraq and Iran. Fidan is also one of President Erdogan’s most trusted advisers. While the Turkish government has been critical of both the U.S. and Israel in its surprise attack on Iran, it has also been firm with Iranian officials about its retaliatory actions against Gulf states that host US. bases – attempting to get Iran to halt such attacks. Though Iranian officials insist they didn’t fire missiles at Turkiye, Fidan said current data reveals the missiles came from Iran but Turkiye will not respond militarily, Fidan said. He added that NATO defenses are effective and that his country wants to remain neutral at this point. As Fidan said: “I know that we are being provoked and we will be provoked, but this is our objective,” adding “We want to stay out of this war.” Fidan is in daily contact with Iranian officials but said he doesn’t know the extent of injuries inflicted on Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in an earlier strike a week ago but he did say “what we know is that he is alive and functioning.” Meanwhile, U.S. officials have speculated that he was severely wounded and might not be alive.
