On January 28, 2026, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a strong call for the United States to abandon its “all-or-nothing” approach to Iran, suggesting instead that Washington resolve its disputes with Tehran “one by one.” Speaking to Al Jazeera, Fidan revealed that despite the recent military buildup in the Gulf, Iran remains ready to return to the negotiating table specifically regarding its nuclear file. He argued that demanding a sweeping, “all-in-one” package deal would be perceived as “humiliating” by Iranian leadership and is virtually impossible for them to process domestically.
Turkish FM: It’s wrong to attack #Iran & start war again. Iran is ready to negotiate on #nuclear file again. My advice to American friends is to close the files one by one with Iran. Start with nuclear. If you put them as a package, it’ll be difficult for Iranians to digest. -AJE pic.twitter.com/EfoMIUGpWX
— Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) January 28, 2026
Turkey’s plea comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group takes up position in the region following a brutal crackdown on internal protests in Iran, which has left over 6,200 people dead. Fidan warned that a new war would be a “catastrophic mistake” for the Middle East, noting that Turkey, which shares a 530km border with Iran, is uniquely positioned to act as a mediator. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan echoed these concerns, pledging that Turkey will “stand against any initiative” that drags the region into further chaos, emphasizing that Iran must be allowed to manage its domestic issues without foreign intervention.
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While U.S. President Donald Trump continues to signal that an “armada” is ready for “speed and violence” if necessary, Ankara is pushing a counter-narrative of “strategic patience.” Fidan stressed that Iran can occupy a “perfect place” in the regional order if it builds trust with its neighbors, but warned that such trust cannot be established through threats or military strikes.
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