TEHRAN, May 9 — Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan exchanged views on the current situation in West Asia during a phone call on Friday.
Araghchi briefed Fidan on the latest developments in Iran’s diplomatic efforts and initiatives to definitively end the war imposed by the United States and Israel, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.
He pointed to the recent U.S. “adventurist” movements in the Persian Gulf and certain “ridiculous and insulting” rhetoric by senior U.S. officials, stressing that the recent escalation by U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and their repeated violations of the ceasefire had deepened Tehran’s doubts about Washington’s intentions and seriousness in pursuing diplomacy.
Araghchi said the United States’ “destructive approach” weakens diplomatic efforts and reinforces the Iranian nation’s suspicion of Washington’s intentions. He further said that, to advance the current diplomatic process, the United States must stop its “illegal aggressions against Iran as well as maximalist and unreasonable approaches.”
For his part, Fidan highlighted the necessity to continue diplomatic efforts to end the war, underlining Türkiye’s support for the ongoing diplomatic process to that end.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Araghchi also discussed the latest regional developments with his British counterpart Yvette Cooper during a separate phone call on Friday, without providing further details on the conversation.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Iran. A ceasefire was reached between the warring sides on April 8, followed by a round of lengthy peace talks in Pakistan, which failed to yield an agreement.
Despite diplomatic efforts from various sides, clashes again erupted in and around the Strait of Hormuz, involving U.S. attacks on Iranian vessels and coastal areas, as well as Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. destroyers. (Namibia Daily News/ Xinhua)
