Turkish top diplomat: Iran-US truce can still hold despite recent tensions

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he believes the ceasefire between Iran and the United States remains viable despite recent tensions, describing the latest flare-up as the result of "miscommunication" rather than a collapse of the truce.

In an interview with The National following the NATO summit in Ankara, Fidan said both Washington and Tehran remained committed to preserving the ceasefire and advancing towards a broader peace agreement.

"I think there was a lack of communications and misunderstanding between both sides in terms of how to implement the passage through the strait," Fidan said, adding that a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart late on Thursday had given him "a deeper understanding of the root of the problem".

"The solution," he said, "was de-escalation."

"Both sides genuinely want to have the ceasefire and to move ahead with the peace agreement," Fidan said. "Nevertheless, there is always a percentage of accident possible, and because of miscommunications or provocations and retaliations, we have to be very careful."

Fidan also sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, warning that its policies posed a broader regional and international security risk.

"The policies of Netanyahu's government are not only a problem for us," he said. "His policies and his government are a burden for Israel, a burden for the region, and a burden and threat for international security."

Asked whether tensions could escalate into a direct confrontation between Türkiye and Israel, Fidan dismissed the prospect.

"There is no reason to have an open conflict," he said.

On Syria, Fidan questioned Israel's intentions towards the country's new authorities.

"We are not sure if Israel wants to see a stable, good, powerful, evolving, developed Syria," he said.

Asked whether Israel was seeking to destabilise the government in Damascus, Fidan replied: "When you look at the past and current patterns of the Israeli government towards the regional countries, yes."

Turning to Gaza, Fidan said the Trump-backed "Board of Peace" had helped halt what he described as "the genocide", but said it had yet to deliver sufficient humanitarian assistance.

"In terms of seeing the deliverables that are promised by the plan itself, especially seeing the people that they are getting enough military assistance, shelter and medicine, I think in that part the plan has not fully succeeded yet," he said.

Fidan urged greater international pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying global attention had shifted due to the conflict in the Gulf.

Looking beyond the current crises, Fidan said Türkiye was working with Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to establish a more flexible regional framework aimed at promoting peace.

"It is time for the region to have to shoulder the problems of our region, and to show ownership," he said.

He added that a future regional security architecture should guarantee "safety, security, political sovereignty, and territorial integrity of every party in the region."

Fidan also said a lasting peace agreement between Washington and Tehran could pave the way for broader regional dialogue and a reduction in Iran's reliance on proxy groups.

"My belief, Iran is mature enough to understand all these realities, so hopefully if we reach a peace agreement between United States and Iran, then we can really start having healthy discussions."

"I think we have to be frank, transparent and sincere in defining and communicating our problems at this time and finding them a solution."