US Ambassador to Turkey Urges Ankara to Help De-Escalate Tensions with Iran

The United States is calling on Turkey and other allies with connections to Iran to help de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East, according to US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake.

His remarks came as the region braces for potential retaliatory actions by Iran and its allies following the recent assassination of senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Iran-backed Hamas, was killed in Tehran on July 31, leading to Iranian threats of revenge against Israel, which is currently engaged in conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination, though Israel has not claimed responsibility.

Ambassador Flake, speaking at a roundtable in Istanbul, emphasized that the US is urging all its allies with influence over Iran, including Turkey, to work towards de-escalation. “We are asking all our allies who have any relations with Iran to persuade it to de-escalate, and that includes Turkey,” Flake stated, noting that Turkey is working diligently to prevent further escalation.

Despite recent tensions in US-Turkish relations over issues like the US alliance with Syrian Kurdish groups and Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 systems, Flake expressed optimism about the state of bilateral relations. He highlighted Turkey’s significant role in the recent US-Russia prisoner exchange and noted improvements in US-Turkish cooperation.

However, Flake acknowledged the challenges posed by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s outspoken criticism of Israel and the complex dynamics in Gaza. He also reiterated US concerns over Turkish exports of military materials to Russia, urging increased cooperation to prevent such transfers.

“The goal is to ensure that Russia does not have the capability to wage war,” Flake said, stressing the need for continued vigilance and collaboration.

(Source: Amna)