IRIA News

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on January 30, 2026, to intensify Turkiye’s diplomatic efforts to prevent a military escalation between the United States and Iran.

The two ministers held bilateral talks before appearing in a joint press conference. The meeting comes amid rising regional tensions following U.S. military deployments to the Middle East and renewed warnings from Washington toward Tehran.

The visit follows a phone call earlier on Friday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and the growing security risks posed by recent developments in the region.

According to a statement from the Turkish Communications Directorate, Erdogan and Pezeshkian reviewed Turkiye-Iran ties as well as the escalating military tensions.

Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart that Turkiye is ready to assume a facilitating role between Iran and the U.S. in order to help de-escalate tensions and contribute to resolving outstanding disputes.

The statement also said Erdogan informed Pezeshkian that he would receive Iran’s foreign minister later on Friday in Ankara.

Araghchi’s visit to Turkiye comes just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped to avoid military action against Iran, despite weeks of sharp rhetoric and an expanding U.S. military presence in the region.

Iran has warned it would strike American bases and aircraft carriers if attacked. A U.S. naval strike group has been operating in Middle Eastern waters since Monday, and Trump previously said it was “ready, willing, and able” to hit Iran if necessary.

Late on Thursday, however, Trump appeared to soften his tone slightly. “We have a group headed out to a place called Iran, and hopefully we won’t have to use it,” Trump told reporters, after earlier saying that time was “running out” for Tehran.

For several weeks, Trump has threatened military action against Iran over its deadly crackdown on protests earlier this month. White House officials have said the president has not made a final decision and remains open to a diplomatic solution.

“I have had, and I am planning on it,” Trump said when asked whether he was in contact with Iranian officials. “I told them: Number one, no nuclear, and number two, stop killing protesters.”

Turkiye Positions Itself as Mediator

Turkiye has repeatedly voiced strong opposition to military action and has offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Officials said this message would be central to Fidan’s discussions with Araghchi.

Fidan has urged both sides to return to negotiations and has argued that talks should proceed incrementally rather than attempting to resolve all disputes at once. He has suggested that negotiations begin with the nuclear issue, leaving other contentious matters for later stages.

Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan met with Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, in İstanbul. pic.twitter.com/SbKBYvennt

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) January 30, 2026

“We call on the U.S. and Iran to come to the negotiating table to resolve their issues,” Fidan said at the press conference following his meeting with Araghchi.

Behind the scenes, Fidan also spoke at length on Thursday with a White House envoy ahead of the Iranian foreign minister’s visit, according to Turkish officials.

Turkiye’s role has been reinforced by President Erdogan’s close relationship with Trump, as well as Ankara’s involvement in recent regional diplomacy, including the Gaza ceasefire and developments in Syria.

Several other regional actors, including Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have also passed messages between Washington and Tehran in an effort to calm tensions.

Despite these efforts, U.S. officials have said there are currently no serious direct negotiations underway and that Tehran does not appear interested in a deal based on U.S. terms.

Iran Signals Conditional Openness to Talks

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Araghchi said Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the U.S., but stressed that Washington must first stop threatening military action.

“There is currently no plan to meet or talk with U.S. officials,” Araghchi said, while noting that Turkiye and other countries are working on a “framework” for potential negotiations.

Araghchi said he discussed with Fidan possible venues and agendas for talks with the Trump administration. “I hope we can soon reach a clear framework that can guarantee dignified negotiations,” he said.

“We need to see the conditions and the agenda first,” Araghchi added, stressing that any negotiations must be “fair and equitable.”

He said Iran would not negotiate over its ballistic missile program and emphasized that Tehran is prepared for both diplomacy and conflict. “Iran is ready for both scenarios, war or diplomacy,” Araghchi said.

Security Concerns Along the Turkiye-Iran Border

Alongside its diplomatic efforts, Ankara is also assessing additional security measures along its border with Iran in case the crisis escalates.

A senior Turkish official said authorities are reviewing precautions along the 500-kilometer frontier. Turkiye began constructing a border wall in 2021 and has so far built 380 kilometers of concrete barriers, along with 553 kilometers of trenches and nearly 250 surveillance towers.

Officials say these measures are part of broader contingency planning as regional tensions rise.

While no timetable has been announced for any potential talks between the U.S. and Iran, Turkish officials say Ankara will continue pushing for dialogue and de-escalation, positioning itself as a key intermediary at a moment of heightened uncertainty in the Middle East.