Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Iran that violations of Turkish airspace “cannot be justified”, following the interception of a second Iranian ballistic missile that entered Turkish airspace on Monday.
The statement came amid rising regional tensions and ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
Warning issued to Tehran
According to the BBC, Erdogan raised the issue during a telephone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. During the conversation, the Turkish president stressed that Ankara seeks to open a path toward a diplomatic solution aimed at ending the conflict currently unfolding in the region. Erdogan stated that attacks targeting countries in the region benefit no one and contribute to further instability.
Statements during cabinet meeting
The issue was also addressed during a meeting of the Turkish cabinet on Monday evening. Erdogan said that despite what he described as “sincere warnings” from Ankara, actions he characterised as “extremely wrong and provocative” continue and risk damaging Turkey’s relationship with Iran.
Turkey’s strategic position
Turkey maintains the second-largest military force within NATO and shares a long land border with Iran that has remained largely stable for nearly five centuries. No other NATO member maintains such a long-standing and extensive direct border with Iran.
Within this context, Erdogan has presented Turkey as a possible mediator in the ongoing regional tensions. Ankara has previously sought similar roles in international crises, including efforts related to the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.