Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Saturday that Middle East peace efforts cannot succeed without regional backing and that Israel must not be allowed to “dynamite” the US-Iran peace deal. Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized that no solution lacking the will and contributions of regional countries can be lasting.
Erdogan Accuses Israel of Undermining Peace
Turkiye, a NATO member and Iran’s neighbor, has repeatedly accused Israel of trying to undermine the US-Iran deal mediated by Pakistan. Erdogan condemned Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, saying: “We are closely following the Israeli administration’s attempts to dynamite the deal ... The current war-addicted Israeli government must not be allowed to drown our geography in the smell of gunpowder and blood again.”
Turkiye and Pakistan Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Erdogan also announced that Turkiye aims to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in energy, transport, critical minerals, information technology, and defense, targeting a bilateral trade volume of $5 billion. Earlier on Saturday, officials from both countries attended a business forum in Istanbul.
Turkish Firms Eye Pakistan’s Energy Sector
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Turkish firms want to contribute to projects in Pakistan and share Turkiye’s energy-sector expertise as Pakistan undergoes a transformation of its electricity sector.
