Turkey is quietly evaluating a range of contingency measures amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, according to a Turkish diplomatic source cited by Reuters. The assessment comes as Washington increases its military presence in the Middle East and Tehran issues warnings of retaliation if attacked.
Earlier this month, Iran and the United States resumed negotiations, raising cautious hopes for diplomacy. Iran has warned that U.S. bases across the region could be targeted in the event of an attack, though Tehran’s top diplomat recently stated that an agreement remains “within reach” if diplomacy is prioritized.
Turkey’s Position: Prepared, But Opposed to War
As a NATO member sharing a long eastern border with Iran, Turkey finds itself directly exposed to any regional escalation. Ankara has repeatedly stressed that it opposes military intervention against Iran and does not want further destabilization in the Middle East.
A senior Turkish diplomatic source said Ankara is examining every possible scenario that could arise if tensions worsen.
“Naturally, all aspects of the measures that could be taken in the event of a negative development are being evaluated,” the source said.
The official added that Turkish authorities are working on steps to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens, while clearly ruling out any action that would infringe on Iran’s territorial integrity.
“Any steps that would violate Iran’s sovereignty are out of the question,” the source emphasized.
Diplomacy Over Escalation
Turkey has maintained active diplomatic contact with both Washington and Tehran in recent weeks, urging restraint and calling for disputes to be resolved through dialogue rather than force. Ankara sees diplomacy as the only viable path to avoid wider regional instability.
Notably, the source declined to provide details on what specific measures Turkey is reviewing, underscoring Ankara’s cautious and deliberately ambiguous posture.
Disinformation Claims Rejected
Separately, Turkey’s presidential office for countering disinformation dismissed recent media reports claiming that Ankara was planning to enter Iranian territory to prevent a possible influx of refugees. Officials described those reports as false and misleading.
A Balancing Act on Turkey’s Eastern Border
Turkey’s approach reflects a careful balancing act: preparing for worst-case scenarios while publicly rejecting military involvement. With negotiations between Iran and the United States ongoing, Ankara appears intent on safeguarding its own security interests without becoming a direct party to any potential conflict.
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