Amid Donald Trump's threats, Turkey rushes to help Iran; Erdogan makes BIG move for Khamenei

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran. Meanwhile, Iran's ally and NATO member Turkey has sided with its fellow Islamic nation. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become actively involved, and as a result, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit Turkey on Friday. During his visit, he will discuss recent developments in Iran and the tensions with the US with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Trump on Wednesday called on Iran to come to the negotiating table and strike a deal on nuclear weapons, otherwise threatening that the next US attack would be far worse. Trump has sent a naval fleet to the Middle East and warned Tehran against killing anti-government protesters or restarting its nuclear program.

What has Erdogan proposed?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed holding a trilateral summit on Iran with his US counterpart Donald Trump. This was reported by the pro-government Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. According to the newspaper, Erdogan made this initiative during a phone call with Trump on January 27. The Turkish leader called for a summit involving the US, Iran, and Turkey, possibly via video link. Through this, Turkey aims to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US.

Tehran, which brutally cracked down on large-scale protests this month, killing or arresting thousands, has threatened to retaliate against the US, Israel, and those who support them. Iranian officials have blamed Iran's enemies, Israel and the US, for this unrest, the largest since the 1979 revolution.

Why is Iran important for Turkey?

Turkey, which shares a border with Iran, has said it opposes any foreign intervention in its neighboring country and has urged Washington to resolve its issues with Iran through dialogue. He has contacted both sides and warned that instability in Iran would be beyond the region's capacity to handle at this time. The source said that Fidan will tell Araghchi that Turkey is closely monitoring the developments in Iran, and that Iran's security, peace, and stability are very important to Ankara.

What if the US attacks Iran?

Meanwhile, Turkey has also devised a strategy ahead of a potential US attack. If the US attacks Iran, Turkey is planning to strengthen its border security. A senior official told AFP news agency on Thursday that Turkey is considering an emergency plan for its border if the US attacks neighboring Iran. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "If the United States attacks Iran and the government falls, Turkey is planning to take further steps to strengthen border security."

Has the US military deployed in the Middle East?

Earlier, the US Central Command said on Monday that a US Navy force led by an aircraft carrier had taken up position in the waters of the Middle East. However, they did not provide precise details. NATO member Turkey shares an approximately 530-kilometer-long border with Iran. It has opposed any US military operation targeting Iran. An official said that a part of their shared border is secured by a 380-kilometer-long wall, but this has proven insufficient. At this stage, Turkish officials are avoiding using the term "buffer zone."