Türkiye calls on Gulf nations not to join the war against Iran.

WEB DESK: Amidst growing concerns of a wider regional conflagration, Turkish officials have been engaged in high-level talks to ensure the stability of the Middle East.

According to reports from Arab News, Türkiye has formally urged governments across the Gulf to exercise “maximum restraint,” even as those nations face increasing domestic and international pressure following a series of Iranian strikes on critical infrastructure, including ports, energy facilities, and airports.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spearheaded this diplomatic “shuttle diplomacy,” travelling to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha to coordinate a de-escalation strategy.

While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed mounting anger over the breach of their sovereignty, Ankara’s primary objective remains the prevention of a multi-front war that could destabilise the entire Mediterranean and Islamic world.

The risk of a regional ‘War of Attrition’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a stern warning this week regarding the potential for retaliatory cycles to spiral out of control. Addressing the volatility of the current security landscape, the President remarked: ”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.”

Sources familiar with the discussions suggest that while Gulf powers are currently weighing their strategic options, they remain hesitant to enter the fray directly.

However, this posture of neutrality is reportedly contingent on the nature of future provocations; should Iran target essential civilian infrastructure specifically power grids or water desalination systems the likelihood of a coordinated military response from the Gulf increases significantly.

Türkiye continues to position itself as a mediator, attempting to bridge the gap between Western military objectives and the delicate security concerns of its regional neighbours.