Key facts
- Turkey warned that a new attack on Iran would expand the regional conflict.
- Diplomacy and dialogue were presented as the only solutions to end the war.
- US and Israeli militaries reportedly drew up plans for strikes against Iran.
- Likely targets for US/Israeli strikes would include Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile/drone arsenal.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned on Friday against any renewed attack on Iran, stating such a move would exacerbate tensions and further expand the conflict, adding that diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to end the war. Fidan met his counterparts from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in Istanbul to discuss developments in the Iran war, attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi militants, and Russia's war in Ukraine. The comments followed a New York Times report that the US and Israeli militaries had drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the US midterm congressional election next month, with likely targets including Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and its missile and drone arsenal. US President Donald Trump had previously stated the US would not launch an attack on Iran before the midterms, and on Friday said the US could end the war quickly but questioned the approach.