ISTANBUL/DOHA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkiye is working intensively to prevent escalating tensions between the United States (US) and Iran from pushing the Middle East into a new conflict, as sharp disagreements threaten to derail planned diplomatic talks.
Read More: Türkiye emerges as key mediator in US–Iran crisis
Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Egypt, Erdogan said direct engagement at the leadership level between Washington and Tehran could prove helpful following lower-level nuclear negotiations scheduled to take place in Oman on Friday. According to a transcript released by his office on Thursday, Erdogan stressed that Turkiye was doing everything possible to avoid an escalation that could destabilise the region.
Germany was once the engine of Europe’s progress; now it has turned into an engine of regression.
Last September in New York, at Merz’s insistence, the E3 put an end to their role in nuclear negotiations by pursuing the return of UN sanctions on Iran. Now, Merz is begging to be… https://t.co/Stpjb9agnv
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) February 5, 2026
The standoff centres on Washington’s insistence that negotiations must include Iran’s ballistic missile programme, while Tehran has remained firm that discussions should be confined strictly to its nuclear activities. This deadlock has fuelled mutual threats, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly warning of possible airstrikes if no agreement is reached.
Tensions have further intensified as the United States continues to bolster its military presence in the Middle East, prompting growing concern among regional powers over the risk of a wider war. Although the venue for talks was shifted from Istanbul to Muscat following remarks by Trump, there has been no sign of progress on bridging the differences over the agenda.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged Iran to engage seriously in talks, warning of “great fear of military escalation” across the region. Speaking in Doha during a Gulf tour, Merz called on Tehran to halt its nuclear programme and avoid further threats against Israel and other countries. He said Germany was closely coordinating with Washington to encourage a diplomatic outcome.
Read More: Turkey calls on US to reopen nuclear talks with Iran
Merz responded sharply to criticism from Iran’s foreign minister, who accused him of political naivety, saying such remarks reflected nervousness within Tehran.
Regional governments, particularly Gulf states, remain deeply uneasy that any military confrontation could spill across borders, disrupt energy supplies and trigger prolonged instability. With US forces deployed in large numbers and diplomatic efforts entering a critical phase, the coming talks in Oman are widely seen as a decisive moment for averting conflict.