During a Saturday meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the need for immediate international action to stop the ongoing bloodshed of innocent Palestinians and the genocide occurring in Gaza and Lebanon.

During the meeting, Araghchi stressed the importance of "enhancing coordination between Iran, Turkiye, and other regional countries to take urgent decisions that will put an end to the Israeli war machine." He also emphasized that close cooperation between Iran and Turkiye is crucial in the current situation to stop the Israeli occupation's crimes.

For his part, President Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye's determination to solidify its cooperation with Iran and strengthen relations on all levels. He underscored the need for the immediate cessation of Israeli crimes.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi noted that he had consulted with Turkish officials about "the Zionist regime's attempts to spread war throughout the region."

In a joint press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that "Israel's aggressive behavior is forcing Iran to take legitimate steps in response," adding that "Israel is trying to drag Iran into war."

The Telegraph commented on Fidan's remarks, saying that his statements about Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza pushing Iran to take "legitimate steps" are a clear show of Turkiye's support for the missile strike launched by Iran on the Israeli occupation earlier this month as part of Operation True Promise 2.

On Friday, Araghchi met with Erdogan and other foreign ministers participating in the "3+3" regional cooperation mechanism meeting in Istanbul, aimed at addressing the South Caucasus.

Araghchi is currently on a regional tour, visiting several countries including  Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt. The tour is focused on "de-escalation efforts and achieving peace in the region amid ongoing tensions and developments."

Diplomatic efforts must be used to halt aggression

During a meeting on Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Araghchi emphasized the importance of utilizing all diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation of the security situation in the region and to alleviate the suffering of the people of Palestine and Lebanon.

He also voiced his concern regarding the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli entity in Palestine and Lebanon.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that "Araghchi conveyed Iran's position on the security situation in the region and Tehran's diplomatic efforts to Sisi."

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi acknowledged that the security situation in the region is sensitive and emphasized the need to prevent further escalation.

El-Sisi emphasized the importance of upholding the sovereignty of all countries in the region while ensuring regional security and stability.