Erdogan meets Iranian foreign minister in Istanbul amid regional tensions

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday amid growing military tensions between Iran and Israel.

The meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Erdogan’s top foreign policy adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic.

Speaking earlier at a session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Araghchi said Iran is open to negotiations with Israel if the "aggression stops." He warned that any U.S. involvement in attacks against Iran would be “very dangerous and deeply regrettable.”

“Diplomacy worked in 2015 and it can work again,” he said, adding that Iran was seeking dialogue but expected the international community to recognize the legitimacy of Iran’s defense.