ANKARA, May 20 - Turkish officials reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Wednesday that he regarded the extension of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a positive development and expressed confidence that the contested issues between the parties could be settled.
According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, Erdogan framed the ceasefire extension as constructive for the wider region and said he believed a reasonable solution to outstanding disputes was possible. The statement highlighted Turkey's continued diplomatic engagement: Ankara has maintained close contact with Washington and Tehran and has liaised with mediators, including Pakistan, as part of efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
The presidency said Turkey had repeatedly called for an end to the fighting and had acted as an intermediary by passing messages between the sides. The statement also referenced comments by President Trump, who had said earlier that negotiations with Iran were "in the final stages" while warning that further attacks could follow unless Tehran agreed to a peace deal.
Erdogan also drew attention to Syria, describing renewed stability there as "an important gain" for the region. He urged measures to prevent the situation in Lebanon from deteriorating amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the presidency added.
On the NATO front, Erdogan informed Trump that preparations for the alliance summit scheduled to take place in Ankara in July were ongoing. The Turkish presidency said Turkey was working to ensure the meeting would be "a success in every aspect." The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations, the statement said.
Context and implications
The presidency's account emphasizes Turkey's active diplomatic posture in the conflict and its role in maintaining communication channels among the involved parties. Ankara's emphasis on a ceasefire extension and on preventing further regional spillover underscores its interest in stabilizing neighboring countries while hosting a major NATO meeting later this year.