Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United States is actively engaging Turkey and other allies with connections to Iran in an effort to de-escalate the situation. This diplomatic push comes in the wake of concerns over potential Iranian retaliation against Israel following the recent assassination of key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah.
On July 31st, Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent leader of the Iran-backed Hamas group, was killed in Tehran. The assassination has sparked heightened threats of revenge from Iran against Israel, which is currently engaged in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza. While Iran has accused Israel of the killing, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the incident.
US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake, speaking at a round-table discussion with journalists in Istanbul, emphasized Turkey’s crucial role in preventing further escalation. He acknowledged Turkey’s efforts to manage the situation, noting that Turkish officials appear more optimistic about avoiding a major conflict than their US counterparts.
“We ask all of our allies that have any relations with Iran to prevail on them to de-escalate, and that includes Turkey,” Flake stated. “They’re doing what they can to make sure that it doesn’t escalate,” he said of Washington’s Turkish interlocutors, adding that they “seem more confident than we are that it won’t escalate.”
US-Turkey relations have faced challenges in recent years due to disagreements over the US alliance with Syrian Kurdish groups (viewed as terrorists by Turkey) and Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems. These actions led to US sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 jet program. However, Flake noted a recent improvement in relations, citing Turkey’s “useful role” in facilitating a major prisoner exchange between the US and Russia in early August. While Turkey was not directly involved in the negotiation process, its logistical support was essential.
“They weren’t involved in the negotiation side, but on the logistics side, they played a significant role,” Flake said.
In a June interview with Reuters, Flake had previously asserted that Turkey remained a strong ally of the West and that US-Turkey relations were robust. Despite this, he acknowledged that the Gaza conflict had created significant challenges, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s strong rhetoric against Israel complicating Turkey’s role as an intermediary. However, Flake observed that the divide between Washington and Ankara on the Gaza situation had narrowed following increased US calls for a ceasefire.
Additionally, Flake addressed ongoing concerns about Turkish military hardware potentially reaching Russia, urging greater cooperation to curb such exports. He emphasized that preventing Russia from obtaining military supplies remains a priority for the US, noting that while there have been some positive signs of improved cooperation from Turkey, the issue continues to be a significant concern.
“It remains a concern of ours, and we raise it frequently and consistently,” he said. “When we talk to our contacts here, what we’ll stress is that our goal is to ensure that Russia is denied the ability to wage war.”
“We still see significant items coming through Turkey,” he said. “So we’re looking for better cooperation there and in many ways we’re getting it. I know that Russia is complaining, which is a good sign.”
