TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments and international issues.
During the telephone conversation, the two foreign ministers reviewed the current status of Iran-Turkey relations and emphasized the importance of strengthening and expanding cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Foreign Minister Araghchi welcomed recent efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and stressed the importance of continued talks to safeguard peace and stability in the region. He also expressed Iran’s readiness to provide support to these efforts. Mr. Fidan emphasized the close connection between peace and security in the region and called on all countries to remain committed to maintaining regional stability.
Araghçi also expressed his condolences over the deaths of Turkish citizens in the military plane crash and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.
A C-130 military cargo plane crashed on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border on November 11, killing all 20 people on board.
In a separate telephone conversation with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Mr. Aragushi discussed bilateral relations and regional development, stressing the importance of continued efforts to strengthen cooperation in all areas of mutual benefit.
Both sides expressed concern over tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and stressed the need for continued regional cooperation to maintain peace and stability.
The Iranian and Qatari foreign ministers also discussed recent developments in the Gaza Strip and the US draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council. Leaders emphasized the importance of continued consultations to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to self-determination.
On November 4, the United States circulated a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council proposing the creation of a “temporary international force” in the Gaza Strip for a minimum period of two years, despite Palestinian concerns about foreign involvement in the Strip.
The proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) would be made up of personnel from the United States, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, the same countries that facilitated negotiations that led to last month’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The agreement aims to implement the first phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which the US president says aims to end the Israeli regime’s more than two-year genocidal war in Gaza.