Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Ankara on Friday for talks with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, as Turkey steps up mediation efforts aimed at preventing a spiral into direct confrontation between Iran and the United States.
The visit comes against a backdrop of sharper US rhetoric and visible military readiness signals in the region, alongside political fallout from Iran’s internal crackdown earlier this month. Reuters reported that Trump has recently threatened stronger military responses tied to Iran’s nuclear activities and domestic repression, while Iran has blamed unrest on adversaries including the US and Israel.
Turkey — a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran — has repeatedly emphasized that it opposes military intervention and sees Iran’s stability as critical to regional security. In previews of the meeting, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources cited by Xinhua said Fidan is expected to reiterate Türkiye’s opposition to “any military intervention” against Iran and warn that escalation would carry regional and global risks.
At the center of Ankara’s approach is a push to reopen diplomatic channels. The Guardian reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has proposed a video call format involving Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as part of an effort to create an off-ramp.
Turkey has also argued that an all-at-once “grand bargain” may be politically impossible for Tehran — and has suggested a step-by-step track. In comments reported by Reuters earlier, Fidan urged Washington to resolve disputes “one by one,” a phrase that reflects Ankara’s view that sequencing issues like the nuclear file, regional militias, and sanctions could reduce the risk of humiliation-driven breakdowns.
The immediate agenda is expected to include de-escalation messaging, the nuclear dossier, and crisis-management mechanisms. Al Jazeera reported Fidan saying Iran is ready to negotiate again on the nuclear file, as Turkey warns that miscalculation could destabilize the region.
For Iran, Ankara offers a practical channel: Turkey maintains working relations with both Tehran and Washington, has influence in regional diplomacy, and has a direct interest in preventing conflict on its border. But major gaps remain, with US demands and Iranian red lines still far apart, and with regional actors closely watching whether mediation can slow momentum toward confrontation.