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3. Turkey Relays Messages Between Washington and Tehran

A senior official in the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Turkey is relaying messages between the United States and Iran, as efforts intensify behind the scenes to contain a widening regional war.

Harun Armagan, deputy head of foreign affairs in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), confirmed that Ankara is “playing a role in conveying messages” between Washington and Tehran in a bid to encourage de-escalation and potentially open the door to direct negotiations.

He did not specify the nature of the messages but said they are also being transmitted to Gulf countries, reflecting a broader regional diplomatic effort as the conflict deepens.

Contradictory Narratives Over Negotiations

The disclosure comes amid conflicting claims over whether talks are actually taking place.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that negotiations with Iran are underway, while Iranian officials have firmly denied any direct dialogue with Washington.

On Wednesday, the Iranian military rejected Trump’s assertions, reinforcing Tehran’s position that no negotiations are currently being conducted.

Turkey Maintains Contacts With Both Sides

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been in contact with both U.S. officials and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in recent days, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.

The discussions have focused on ways to contain the conflict and explore possible diplomatic off-ramps, as Ankara continues to position itself as a mediator.

Turkey, a NATO member with working relations with both Washington and Tehran, had already sought to facilitate dialogue before the outbreak of hostilities and has since repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire.

President Erdoğan said Turkey would continue to use “all its capabilities” to support efforts aimed at achieving peace.

Rising Regional Spillover Risks

The mediation efforts come as the war shows signs of expanding beyond its initial frontlines.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Turkish and NATO-linked air defenses have intercepted three Iranian missiles headed toward Turkish territory, underscoring the risk of broader regional escalation.

As indirect communication channels remain active but fragile, Ankara’s role as an intermediary highlights both the absence of formal diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran and the urgency of preventing the conflict from spreading further.