Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Turkey on Friday as Ankara spearheaded mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, following President Donald Trump’s softened stance on military action against Iran after weeks of escalating tensions.
Trump had previously warned time was “running out” for Iran to negotiate its nuclear program while deploying naval forces to the region. However, he shifted tone Thursday evening during a media appearance at a documentary premiere about Melania Trump.
“We have a group headed out to a place called Iran, and hopefully we won’t have to use it,” Trump said while speaking to media at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania.
Regional Powers Urge Restraint
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian he stood ready to facilitate dialogue between the rivals. Pezeshkian emphasized that successful diplomacy required abandoning “belligerent and threatening actions in the region,” his office confirmed.
Meanwhile, Gulf states hosting US military bases called for calm as Tehran-ally Russia pushed for negotiations. The European Union simultaneously advocated against military action while designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a “terrorist organisation” over the deadly protest crackdown.
Iran swiftly condemned the EU move, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling it a “mistake” while senior advisor Ali Shamkhani warned on X that “countermeasures will be immediate.” He accused Western powers of hypocrisy regarding Israel’s Gaza campaign.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen defended the designation firmly. “‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood,” she declared while announcing the IRGC label.
Protest Toll Remains Disputed
Rights groups report security forces killed thousands during December protests over economic grievances that peaked 8–9 January, with the US-based HRANA documenting 6,479 deaths including 118 children, though internet blackouts hinder verification. Iranian authorities acknowledge over 3,000 fatalities but claim most were security personnel or bystanders killed by “rioters.”
As Turkey hosts high-level talks between diplomats Hakan Fidan and Araghchi, regional actors watch closely whether Ankara can broker de-escalation before tensions reignite.
