Turkish FM calls for lasting US-Iran agreement in NATO summit

(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored the importance of a lasting agreement between Iran and the United States, noting that both nations appear willing to engage in dialogue following a period of heightened tensions and reciprocal airstrikes.

Speaking during a live television interview, Fidan discussed key international developments and offered insight into the recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague. He described the discussion as highly constructive, with a focus on regional concerns such as the Gaza crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and rising tensions with Iran.

Fidan also touched on NATO-related matters, highlighting that Trump’s calls for greater defense spending were well received by European leaders. He noted that member nations reached an agreement to raise their military budgets to a total of 5% of GDP, dividing the spending into 3.5% for traditional defense and up to 1.5% for cyber defense, infrastructure security, and boosting industrial capabilities over the next decade.

Regarding the 2026 NATO summit set to be hosted by Türkiye, Fidan recalled that the last one in the country took place in 2004. He confirmed that Türkiye’s bid to host the next summit was approved and added that President Erdogan is currently weighing whether the event will take place in Istanbul or Ankara, with two camps expressing different preferences. The final decision, he said, rests with Erdogan.

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