Erdogan calls for end to Iran war ‘bloodbath’

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Monday for “an end to the bloodbath” in the Middle East, vowing to help reach a ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran.

“We are on the side of peace. We want an end to the bloodbath, for the tears to stop flowing and that our region finally reach the lasting peace it has cried out for for years,” Erdogan told members of his AKP party in Ankara.

“We want neither conflict nor war with our neighbours during this holy month of Ramadan,” the president added at a fast-breaking meal for observant Muslims.

Erdogan, who maintains good relations with President Donald Trump despite frequently criticising American ally Israel, nonetheless insisted that the US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, which sparked the war and triggered retaliation from Tehran, were “illegal”.

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“We will intensify our contacts at all levels until a ceasefire is concluded and tranquillity is restored to our region,” he said, adding that he was “grieving at the sight of the suffering of the civilians and innocent children” in Iran hit by the conflict.

Erdogan, a key regional player, had previously expressed his sadness at the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Saturday’s strikes along with much of the Islamic republic’s leadership.

Turkey, a majority Sunni-Muslim nation which is a member of NATO, shares a 500-kilometre (315-mile) border with Iran.

While Iran has retaliated by aiming drones and missiles at Israel, Iraq, Jordan and the Gulf states in the hope of striking US bases and assets, Turkey has so far been spared Tehran’s wrath.