Turkish foreign minister discusses regional tensions and missile incidents

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on March 14, 2026, that Ankara seeks to avoid involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict while maintaining communication channels with all parties. Fidan expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might commit a genocide in Lebanon under the pretext of fighting Hezbollah. Furthermore, he noted that Israel’s potential closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque could trigger significant regional unrest. Regarding a missile incident, Fidan stated that Iran has denied responsibility for missiles launched toward Turkey. Ankara claims it possesses technical data that contradicts the denials provided by Iranian officials and is currently addressing these discrepancies with Tehran. Fidan emphasized that while diplomacy is difficult, he is urging Iran to cease such actions. He added that regional countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are under significant pressure due to the ongoing conflict.