Türkiye's transport minister assures maritime security as Israel-Iran conflict mounts

Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that there is currently no "hot conflict" at sea amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. 

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, he emphasised close coordination between Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and National Intelligence Organisation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

“We are coordinating with our Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Intelligence Organisation. There is no talk of any hot conflict at sea at the moment. We are monitoring ships flying the Turkish flag or ships belonging to Türkiye. I can say that there are no serious risks at present, but we are coordinating our work with all our fleets and maritime carriers. We have an instant communication system in place in case the situation deteriorates,” he said.

The deep-rooted animosity between Israel and Iran, spanning decades, sharply intensified on June 13 with Israel’s launch of Operation Rising Lion. This preemptive campaign aimed at Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure was triggered by escalating concerns over Tehran’s advancing nuclear weapons capabilities. The strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military leaders, as well as nine nuclear scientists and other high-ranking officials, delivering a significant blow to Iran’s military and nuclear establishment.

In retaliation, Iran responded with a large-scale missile and drone offensive targeting Israel on the very same day. More than 150 ballistic missiles and over 100 drones were launched against Tel Aviv and several other strategic locations, causing extensive civilian casualties and widespread infrastructural damage. This barrage further escalated the cycle of violence and intensified regional instability.

Despite these severe developments on land and in the air, Minister Uraloğlu emphasised that the situation at sea remains stable for now. Turkish authorities are maintaining close vigilance over maritime activity, particularly vessels flying the Turkish flag or owned by Turkish interests, to mitigate any potential risks. The existing coordination between Türkiye’s defence, foreign affairs, and intelligence agencies, along with real-time communication systems, are intended to ensure a rapid response if the maritime security situation worsens.

By Tamilla Hasanova