Turkey Welcomes US-Iran Temporary Ceasefire, Awaits Pakistan Negotiations

Turkey on Wednesday (8/4) expressed its support for the temporary ceasefire agreed between the United States (US) and Iran, amid rising regional tensions in recent times. In its official statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of fully implementing the agreement on the ground. “We emphasise that the temporary ceasefire must be fully implemented on the ground and hope that all parties will adhere to the reached agreement,” the statement said, as reported by Anadolu on Wednesday (8/4). The Turkish government also assessed that long-term peace can only be achieved through a diplomatic approach. “The path to lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual trust,” the statement continued. Ankara added its commitment to continue supporting the negotiation process planned to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan. In addition, Turkey appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting the de-escalation process. Ankara expressed hope that various initiatives supporting the creation of peace can continue. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the decision to temporarily halt military actions against Iran. He stated that he had agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks. Tensions in the region have escalated since 28 February, when the United States, along with Israel, launched attacks on Iran. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,340 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader at the time, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks using drones and missiles targeting Israel as well as several countries in the region, including Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets. Additionally, Tehran imposed restrictions on shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global energy trade. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed the reopening of the shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks. Several regional leaders in Asia have positively welcomed the announcement of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Apindo Chairman Shinta Widjaja Kamdani assessed that the two-week ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran has not yet fully restored investor confidence. The plan for a two-week ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran indeed provides relief to the global market, as reflected in the drop in oil prices. Several major countries and potential mediators are poised to play important roles in maintaining regional stability following the US-Iran ceasefire announcement.