Turkey has stepped up diplomatic efforts to prevent Gulf Arab states from joining the Israeli-US war on Iran, as fears grow of a wider regional escalation, Bloomberg reported.
Officials familiar with the talks said Ankara has urged Gulf governments to show restraint, despite mounting anger over Iranian strikes on ports, energy facilities and airports. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has travelled to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, while also holding calls with regional counterparts.
Gulf powers, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are weighing their options but are unlikely to enter the conflict unless Iran targets critical infrastructure such as power and water systems.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against further escalation, saying: “We do not want the war to turn into a war of attrition among countries in the region. Retaliatory actions, especially against countries in the Gulf, carry such a risk.”