Turkish President says region cannot endure new war
21 June 2025 20:37
ISTANBUL (AGENCIES) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that the Middle East cannot withstand another war, stressing that the only viable solution to the ongoing dispute over Iran's nuclear programme is a return to the negotiating table among all concerned parties.According to a statement issued by the Turkish presidency and reported by Anadolu Agency, Erdogan made the remarks during a meeting in Istanbul today with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.The Turkish president affirmed that Türkiye has consistently opposed Israeli attacks, whether on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, or Iran, asserting that Türkiye's stance is rooted in principles that uphold sovereignty and reject violence.The meeting addressed regional and international developments, with a focus on the military escalation between Israel and Iran, as well as ways to ease tensions and revive political and diplomatic processes in the region.
Israel-Iran Conflict
Continue full coverage
Erdogan noted that Türkiye has intensified its diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, engaging with various international parties to help de-escalate the situation and promote political solutions over the risk of broader conflict.
He emphasised that the entire region cannot endure the outbreak of another war, calling for Israel to immediately cease its aggressive policies and urging a return to political rationality.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
No radiation consequences from Israeli strike on Isfahan facility
In a statement issued by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, the agency said that the site in question was a centrifuge production workshop in Isfahan, the third such facility to be targeted in Israeli attacks on locations associated with Iran's nuclear programme. Grossi said, 'We know this facility well. There were no nuclear materials at the site, and therefore, the attack has not resulted in any radiological consequences.' Earlier in the day, the Israeli military confirmed that it had struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight. Meanwhile, Akbar Salehi, Deputy Security Chief of Isfahan Province, said the Israeli strikes caused damage to the facility but did not result in any casualties.
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Attack on Iran violates international law: GCC Secretary-General
In his address at the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which began today in Istanbul, Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC's call for a return to diplomacy. He stressed the importance of exercising restraint and maintaining open diplomatic channels, viewing them as the only viable path to avoid a wider regional escalation. Al Budaiwi praised Oman's positive mediation role in promoting US-Iran negotiations and urged all parties to prioritise wisdom and diplomacy, warning against the risks of a confrontation that could extend beyond regional borders. Regarding developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, Al Budaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's unwavering support for the Palestinian people in Gaza and called for an end to their suffering. He emphasised the need to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip, open all crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and essential supplies, and ensure their continuous delivery to the population. He also underscored the urgent need for international protection for the Palestinian people and called for an end to the targeting of civilians, urging full compliance with international law, international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions without exception. On another note, Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC's support for joint Islamic action efforts led by the OIC since its founding. He noted that the Council's support is especially evident in key issues of priority for the Islamic world. He highlighted the political support provided by the GCC during emergency Islamic summits and its contributions to reconstruction efforts in affected areas, as well as defending the rights of Muslim communities in international forums in line with the principle of Islamic solidarity. Al Budaiwi added that the GCC has played a central role in combating Islamophobia and countering campaigns aimed at distorting the image of Islam, by backing the OIC's initiatives at the United Nations and adopting landmark resolutions that promote coexistence and mutual respect. He noted that GCC countries play an active role in political mediation and conflict resolution within the Islamic world, including support for dialogue between disputing parties and facilitating international consensus on sensitive issues through effective diplomatic channels.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
'Worst internet shutdown': Iranians abroad fear for loved ones amid blackout back home
It has been a week of dreading and despair for Shirin, a young Iranian woman living in Europe. She has not heard from her family in Iran for five days, after the government disconnected phone and internet services over cybersecurity threats sparked by the war with Israel. The many text messages Shirin sends each day go unanswered. Her calls are cut off after one ring and WhatsApp threads remain marked with a disheartening single tick – meaning recent messages have not been delivered. More than 400 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks on June 13, Iranian state media has reported. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities. The blackout imposed earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people of Iran has left civilians in the dark about when and where the next Israeli strike might occur. Activists describe the move as a form of psychological warfare in a country all too familiar with state-imposed information controls and internet shutdowns during times of unrest. 'It's like waiting outside an operating room, not knowing anything about how the surgery is going,' said Shirin. 'The last thing my dad told me before the shutdown was, 'Don't worry, stay where you are and go on with your life. It's all going to be OK.' But, of course, we're completely panicked.' She said the last time such an internet shutdown occurred was during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022. Those were among the most significant political uprisings in Iran 's recent history, when millions demanded an end to gender-based discrimination. The protests were met with violent repression by authorities. Shirin is far from alone. Around the world, Iranians are desperately waiting for any news that their loved ones back home are safe, as deadly missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have escalated since June 13, following strikes Israel claimed were aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that the change or fall of Iran's leadership was not a goal of Israel's attacks, but could be a result. Cyber attacks have surged since the conflict began, aimed at Iranian banks and state television networks. On Wednesday, hackers briefly took control of the national TV news channel and broadcast a message calling on people to hold protests, which the network quickly dismissed as an 'irrelevant message'. Prominent internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said the country had faced significant disruptions since the conflict started. On Saturday, it said internet services partially resumed after a 62-hour, government-imposed shutdown. These blackouts severely 'limit the public's ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely and follow safety alerts amid continuing conflict with Israel", the group said. While Iran blocks access to many foreign websites, social media and messaging apps, a wider range of websites could not be reached this week. The slowdown has also reportedly disrupted tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which many rely on to access international content. 'This was the worst internet shutdown we've ever experienced in Iran,' Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group. 'Usually, they block access from inside the country to the outside. But in this case, we had no access both ways. We have never had this kind of shutdown before. It meant we had zero visibility into what was happening inside the country.' He said VPNs were restricted and phone calls from outside Iran were completely blocked, although calls within the country still worked. 'There's been some improvement starting today [June 21],' he added. 'But there's still fear it could come back at any time.' There is currently a 'white-listing' system in place, with only a limited number of websites accessible both inside and outside Iran. 'It's unclear what the exact policy is or how these websites are chosen,' he said. 'Concerning' pattern Rights organisations have denounced the move to restrict internet access as part of a concerning trend. 'We are deeply worried about the nature and scale of the shutdown, which only adds to the distress of people already grappling with … uncertainty,' Hussein Baoumi, the Middle East and North Africa deputy regional director at Amnesty International, told The National. 'Restricting access to platforms like WhatsApp and other communication tools prevents people from obtaining potentially life-saving information, including warnings about bombings.' Iranian authorities have cut off internet access at other critical periods in the past. In 2019, Tehran completely shut down access for six days during nationwide protests that reportedly led to the deaths of more than 100 people amid a crackdown by security forces. 'The shutdown also serves to control what can be shared on social media, particularly anything that might challenge the government. We've raised concerns about this pattern in the past,' said Mr Baoumi. Abbas, another Iranian living in Europe, said blackouts occurred every time there was unrest in the country. For him, this reveals the government's true intentions behind the latest restrictions. 'As soon as there are protests, they cut the internet so people can't communicate, film or share information. They cut it to limit communication with the Iranian diaspora, to block access to information from abroad,' he said. 'They cut it because they're afraid of the people."
