Turkey has launched intensive diplomatic contacts with Arab countries hit by Iranian strikes, urging them not to be drawn into direct military involvement in the growing Middle East crisis, according to Bloomberg, which cited sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Ankara is said to be using its channels with both Tehran and several Arab capitals in an effort to prevent the confrontation from expanding into a broader regional war.
Turkish officials reportedly fear that if Arab states become active participants in combat operations, the conflict could spiral far beyond its current scope and undermine security across the entire region. Because Turkey maintains working relations with Iran while also preserving close political and economic ties with several Arab governments, it is being viewed as one of the few actors capable of communicating with all sides at a sensitive moment.
Among the countries Turkey is reportedly trying to restrain are the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Both governments have repeatedly signaled that they are prepared to defend their territories, but they have also made clear that they do not want to see the conflict intensify beyond their borders. Their concern is not only military, but also economic: direct participation in action against Iran could expose critical energy infrastructure to renewed attacks.
According to the report, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are especially wary that escalation could put oil and gas facilities, ports and other strategic assets at risk. For Ankara, the central objective is to prevent the crisis from turning into an open war between Iran and the Arab monarchies, a scenario that could destabilize trade routes, energy markets and political balances across the Middle East.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier called for de-escalation and sought to mediate talks between the opposing sides. In recent weeks, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have come under Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting important infrastructure, including oil and gas fields and port facilities. Turkey’s current diplomacy appears aimed at ensuring those attacks do not trigger a much larger confrontation with consequences for the entire region.
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