The Turkish public is closely following in and regarding Iran, like the rest of the world.
Last week, an extraordinary meeting was held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of Türkiye and Gulf countries to address the situation in Iran.
In the Joint Statement after the meeting, Iran’s “attacks” against Gulf states were condemned, and it was claimed that these actions violate international law.
A statement condemning Iran, not US/Israeli aggression
In Riyadh, foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates held a consultative ministerial meeting regarding “the Iranian attacks” on the Gulf countries, Jordan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye.
In the joint statement, the countries “affirmed their condemnation and denunciation of these Iranian deliberate attacks with ballistic missiles and drones which targeted residential areas, civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential buildings, and diplomatic premises”.
The statement stressed that such attacks cannot be justified under any circumstances. It also noted that the participating ministers reaffirmed the right of states to defend themselves in accordance with Article (51) of the United Nations Charter.
While calling on Iran to take concrete steps toward ensuring regional security, the statement urged Tehran to “immediately halt its attacks” as a first step toward resolving crises through diplomacy. The joint statement demanded that Iran respect international law, international human rights, and the principles of good neighborly relations.
The participant countries stated that the future of relations with Iran depends on its respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and that Tehran “not using or developing its military capabilities to threaten countries of the region”.
Using notably strong language, the statement also called on Iran to stop supporting, financing, and arming affiliated militia groups in Arab countries for its own strategic aims.
It further urged Iran to refrain from any actions or threats that could disrupt international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or endanger maritime security in Bab al-Mandeb.
The statement expressed support for Lebanon’s security, stability, and territorial integrity, and backed the Beirut government’s decision to “limit weapons to the state”.
The statement omitted any condemnation of the US-Israel for their attacks on Iran. It only criticized Israel’s “attacks on Lebanon and its expansionist policies in the region.”
The countries declared that they agreed to continue consultations and coordination to monitor developments and formulate a common stance.
Backlash in Türkiye to the scandalous statement
The statement was met with backlash in Türkiye. Many described it as “scandalous”.
Vatan Party leader Doğu Perinçek strongly condemned the statement, sharing the following remarks on social media:
“Iran is fighting, Lebanon is fighting, Hezbollah is fighting, Palestine is fighting, Yemen is fighting, Muslim countries are fighting imperialism and Zionism. Where do you stand? What happened to your “solidarity” with Gaza?
You are providing bases to the enemy, supplying fuel, giving money. Is this what being Muslim means? Is this how you enter Eid al-Fitr? Will you be celebrating Eid al-Fitr with US and Israeli killers?
Will your Eid greetings go not to the Muslim countries that are fighting, but to those massacring Muslims?
You are giving bases to the US. What are Iran, Palestine, and Yemen supposed to do? Stand in salute in front of the bases you provide?
You are supplying natural gas and energy to the US. From your bases, missiles are being launched at Iran. What are Muslims supposed to do? Lie down like sacrificial lamb under the missiles you help send?
Iran is not attacking Muslim countries; it is targeting US bases and the centers that support them.
The officials of Türkiye who signed this statement, does not represent the Türkiye of those who fell in Çanakkale in 1915 against imperialist invaders, those who died in the War of Independence, or the soldiers and police who have sacrificed their lives for 40 years fighting terrorism. At the beginning of every speech, you honor the martyrs, yet you sign a statement written by the US-Israeli front responsible for their deaths.
Those who tie their fate to Trump and Netanyahu will share their end. Surely, Allah does not promise paradise to those who kill Muslims.”
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the detained presidential candidate of the main opposition party, also criticized the statement. In a post on social media, he wrote:
“It is clear who initiated the Iran crisis. For this reason, we condemned actions that violate international law and called on all parties to cease hostilities.
Yet in the joint statement signed in Riyadh by 12 regional countries, and in the follow-up remarks, the US is no longer even mentioned. It condemns Iran’s attacks, but those who started the crisis are left unmentioned.
If you claim to pursue a principled foreign policy, you cannot apply international law selectively. Iran’s attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are wrong. However, attacks on Iran’s sovereignty, civilian infrastructure, and territorial integrity are equally unacceptable.
Türkiye’s foreign policy must be conducted on the basis of law, principles, and effective diplomacy. Rather than signing texts written by others, Türkiye must act as a country capable of taking a consistent stance aligned with its own national interests.
A line that obscures those who initiated the war and applies international law selectively only damages Türkiye’s credibility.
An unprincipled policy of ‘balance’ is not balance, it is drift.”
The statement signed in Riyadh also drew criticism from communist parties.
The Communist Party of Türkiye (TKP) and the Communist Movement of Türkiye (TKH) condemned the text as a “document of disgrace” and sharply criticized the government.
In its statement, TKP emphasized that the statement contained no clear stance against US and Israeli policies in the region and described Türkiye’s sign as shameful. TKP’s statement read:
“Far from even uttering a single word against the US and Israel turning the region into a bloodbath, signing a text on behalf of Türkiye that condemns Iran for these attacks is a document of disgrace. We will not forget the scandals of the AKP, which has dragged our country onto the same side as the US and Zionism. This country belongs to millions of working people who stand against occupation, genocide, and banditry, not to US puppets.”
TKH also labeled the statement as a “document of disgrace.” TKH argued that the statement effectively legitimizes US and Israeli military actions in the region. In its statement, TKH said:
“The joint declaration signed by 12 countries, including Türkiye, condemning Iran and calling for a halt to ‘attacks,’ has gone down in history as a ‘document of disgrace’ that legitimizes the aggressive US-Israel axis. That 12 countries, including Türkiye, have assumed the role of spokespersons for Gulf monarchies and the US-Israel partnership is unacceptable both politically and morally.”
On the other hand, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan defended the Riyadh declaration despite the backlash.
Speaking to reporters, Fidan stated that the meeting in Riyadh had a single-item agenda, and the joint statement reflected this. He stated:
“The Gulf countries organized this meeting with a single agenda item. It was held to gather regional assessments regarding Iran’s attacks on these countries. All the regional states directly or indirectly affected by the war were present at the meeting. The aim was to seek a shared understanding (…) We continue to maintain our principled stance. We oppose both Israel’s aggression and expansionism as well as Iran’s actions aimed at spreading the war across the region.”
Fidan said that Türkiye has been the country that has criticized Israel most strongly from the very outset, and Türkiye voices these criticisms and takes concrete steps on every platform and at the highest levels.