Türkiye Pushes for U.S.–Iran Talks Through Erdoğan Initiative

According to Turkish columnist Hande Fırat, Erdoğan raised the idea of a high-level trilateral meeting during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on January 27. The proposed summit, potentially held via video conference, would include leaders from Türkiye, the United States and Iran.

Fırat reported that Trump responded positively to the proposal. Iran dominated the agenda of the Erdoğan–Trump call, during which the Turkish president outlined Ankara’s position that the crisis should be resolved at the negotiating table rather than through military confrontation.

“If both the U.S. and Iranian presidents accept President Erdoğan’s proposal for a trilateral high-level meeting, an important step toward diplomacy will have been taken,” Fırat wrote.

Ten Days of Shuttle Diplomacy

Türkiye’s diplomatic push intensified during what Fırat described as a “critical 10-day period” marked by peak tensions between Washington and Tehran. During this time, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted four key engagements with U.S. and Iranian counterparts.

According to the reported timeline:

• January 13, 22:47: Fidan spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
• January 13: Tom Barrack, known for his close ties to Trump, met Fidan in Ankara
• January 14, 11:43: Fidan held a second phone call with Araghchi
• January 20, 19:23: Fidan spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• January 20: A second contact took place with Barrack

“The common thread in all these talks was clear: diplomacy, not conflict,” Fırat wrote.

Ankara’s Objective: Prevent Military Escalation

According to the report, Türkiye’s aim has been to ease escalating tensions, bring both sides to the negotiating table, and avert a potential military intervention. Erdoğan’s direct engagement with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Fidan’s shuttle diplomacy between Washington and Tehran,

3and coordination with Qatar and Oman have underscored Ankara’s approach.

Fırat summarized Türkiye’s position as: “Neither Iran struck, nor did the United States lose prestige.”

Conditions for Renewed Talks

Ankara believes that if Iran were to take a step—such as proposing limited cooperation with the United States on oil fields or technology sharing—Washington could return to negotiations. However, the report notes that such a move would require a reduction in Israeli domestic political pressure and a symbolic diplomatic gesture from Tehran to persuade its own public.

U.S. Demands and the Israel Factor

According to Fırat, the White House’s demands from Iran are explicit:

• Iran must eliminate or surrender its enriched uranium
• Remaining nuclear facilities must be shut down
• Long-range missile capabilities must be dismantled
• Threats against Israel must cease

However, Ankara believes the fourth condition—ending threats toward Israel is the core issue driving U.S. pressure.

The report notes that as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s election timetable approaches, Iran has become a central issue, with Israel seeking to see Tehran weakened, whether through U.S.-mediated diplomacy or direct pressure.