Türkiye’s intensive diplomacy helps broker fragile US-Iran ceasefire

Türkiye’s rapid back-channel diplomacy, led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hakan Fidan, helps avert wider conflict and sets stage for Pakistan-hosted peace talks.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Türkiye played a decisive behind-the-scenes role in securing a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, following an intense burst of diplomacy that included more than 150 phone calls in just 10 days, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

The two-week truce, announced at midnight on April 7-8, comes after weeks of escalating conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Feb. 28. The deal aims to create space for a broader political settlement, with formal talks now scheduled to be hosted in Islamabad.

According to the sources, Ankara positioned itself as a rare bridge between regional powers and Western capitals. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan led both on-ground engagements and sustained “phone diplomacy” across multiple capitals, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan remained closely briefed throughout.

In the final hours before the ceasefire, Türkiye maintained continuous contact with Washington, Tehran, Islamabad and Doha until 2 a.m., helping prevent a wider regional escalation.

At the outset of the conflict, Ankara set two priorities: containing the crisis to avoid a regional war and redirecting diplomatic focus toward Washington’s role. In line with this, Fidan conducted more than 150 calls in 10 days, including nearly 50 engagements with Pakistani leadership alone.

Türkiye also engaged Gulf states to defuse tensions after Iranian strikes raised fears of retaliation. On the first day of Eid, Fidan traveled to Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, meeting regional leaders and helping ease what sources described as a “trigger-ready” situation.

Parallel to regional outreach, Ankara conveyed warnings to Tehran over potential escalation risks linked to target selection.

Pakistan emerged as a key partner in the mediation effort. The framework of the ceasefire text was drafted during Fidan’s visit to Islamabad in late March and early April, while the agenda and format of upcoming talks were finalized under Türkiye’s coordination.

Notably, Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, held exclusive one-on-one consultations with Turkish counterparts during the process, underlining Ankara’s central role.

Erdoğan also led a parallel diplomatic push, holding talks with more than 20 world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside key European, Gulf, and Asian leaders.

The ceasefire was finalized just hours before a deadline set by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, underscoring the urgency of the negotiations.

Turkish officials say their goal now is to ensure a temporary truce and help Pakistan evolve into a durable peace framework, even as fragile calm holds across the region.

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