Ankara, Turkey – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkey could actively participate in demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz, provided a comprehensive peace agreement is reached to end the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
These remarks come as regional powers seek to ensure the security of vital waterways, which have been severely impacted by the recent military escalation.
Fidan noted that since the Twelve-Day War and throughout periods of regional turmoil, Turkey has exerted considerable diplomatic efforts to play the role of an impartial mediator between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv. This has been done in an effort to contain crises and prevent them from escalating into a full-blown regional conflict.
He considered the possibility of the Turkish Navy participating in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz to be within the bounds of “humanitarian nature” and international responsibility towards global trade. However, he emphasized clearly that Turkey will not engage in any field mission that could lead to its involvement in a new military conflict or disrupt its diplomatic balance.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during recent tensions has been a major obstacle to the international economy, as the disruption of shipping traffic has thrown global supply chains into disarray. It has also caused a record surge in energy prices.
The issue of reopening and securing the strait is one of the key and contentious points on the table in ongoing negotiations.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. The first round of direct talks between Washington and Tehran took place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, two weeks ago, but failed to produce a final agreement to end the fighting or establish a sustainable mechanism for reopening the waterways.
Ankara hopes its vision will contribute to providing technical and security guarantees that encourage parties to make concessions ensuring freedom of international navigation in accordance with applicable laws. It also emphasizes that any Turkish military role will be exclusively related to the post-agreement phase and will be limited to the construction and technical development of the waterway.
