“No one wants to see a new war break out when the ceasefire expires next week. We hope … the parties will extend the ceasefire,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
“I hope there’ll be an extension. I am optimistic,” he said.
Speaking to reporters at a diplomacy forum in the southern province of Antalya, he said that while negotiations between Washington and Iran are “largely complete”, there are still a number of disagreements.
Fidan also said the ceasefire, set to expire on Wednesday, should be extended.
Land grabbing from Isreal
Fidan accused Israel of land-grabs in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire.
Turkiye accused Israel of seeking to create a “fait accompli” in Lebanon despite an agreed ceasefire, with the foreign minister denouncing “Israeli expansionism.”
“The ongoing Iran-United States negotiations seem to be overshadowing this situation (in Lebanon). Israel appears to be trying to take advantage of this distraction to create a fait accompli,” he added.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on April 15 that Ankara was working to extend a ceasefire between the US and Iran, ease tensions, and ensure the continuation of talks, and added Turkey was hopeful of negotiations despite stumbling blocks.
Turkey, a neighbour of Iran, has been in close touch with the US, Iran, and mediator Pakistan. It has repeatedly called for an end to the war that it says is unjustified.