Turkiye Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan has expressed cautious optimism over the prospects of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, even after Pakistan-mediated negotiations failed over the weekend. The collapse of the talks has dimmed hopes for an immediate breakthrough in the conflict that erupted in late February, which has claimed thousands of lives and unsettled global markets. “Both sides are sincere about the ceasefire,” Fidan said in an interview with Anadolu Agency, noting that he has remained in touch with stakeholders involved in the negotiations. Also Read: Islamabad Talks Fail: What's Next As US-Iran Tensions Escalate However, he cautioned that regional dynamics could complicate progress. “We always need to take Israel's potential for acting as a spoiler into account,” he said, referring to Israel. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has attributed the breakdown in talks to Tehran's unwillingness to scale back its nuclear programme. “I think the Iranians will evaluate the proposal made by the Americans and respond,” Fidan said, adding that sticking points remain. “I am thinking that if the nuclear issue comes down to an all-or-nothing situation, especially regarding enrichment, we might face serious obstacles.” Despite the challenges, he indicated that diplomatic channels remain active. “Hopefully, we will try to overcome this with the support of some mediators,” he added. Turkiye has been part of broader diplomatic efforts—alongside Egypt and Pakistan—to secure a ceasefire in the region. Tensions have also intensified around the Strait of Hormuz after Trump announced a blockade, raising concerns over global energy supplies. “Negotiations with Iran should be conducted, persuasion methods should be used, and the strait should be opened as soon as possible,” Fidan said. He suggested that reopening the key shipping route may not be the primary hurdle. “The issue (opening of Hormuz) may be resolved in about two to three weeks, with some kind of agreement. The problem is not there,” he said. “The real question is whether something will emerge afterward that will bring a new phase... because this is an international free passage zone. Any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.” Fidan added that regional powers broadly favour maintaining stability in the aftermath of the conflict. “They want the post-war order to remain the same as the pre-war order. They have major interests and expectations in this regard.” Also Read: Explained: Why US-Iran Talks In Islamabad Failed; Key Sticking Points Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
See this event through different lenses
Compare how Western, Iranian, Israeli, Global South, and Pro-Peace perspectives frame this event.
Compare PerspectivesLoading notes...
International mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a senior Iranian official cited in reports. The measure is described as intended to reduce hostilities and allow renewed talks on a prior interim agreement.
Both sides are assessing next steps in the current regional security situation.
Reports indicate that a US-Iran ceasefire has broken down amid renewed fighting, with the potential impact of mediation efforts by Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman remaining unclear. Earlier diplomatic steps included a June memorandum of understanding between the parties for further negotiations and talks hosted in Geneva in February.
The summary also references Europe’s historical role in diplomacy, including the 1814-15 Congress of Vienna.
Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that his representatives had spoken with Iranian officials an hour earlier and that those officials wanted to make a deal to end the conflict, though he noted they had broken prior agreements and expressed uncertainty about whether one would be reached.
He added that people do not want to die and that Iran would need to proceed carefully to avoid further losses. The remarks come amid an ongoing US-Iran conflict that has involved casualties and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with some social media users criticizing the repetition of similar statements.
Why the Iran-US ceasefire is falling apart Iran and the US have resumed fighting because they don’t see each other as ‘reliable negotiating partners’, says analyst Ali Vaez. Neither Iran nor the United States seems able to deliver a “knockout blow at an acceptable price” to the other side, and both know “they have no choice other than engaging in diplomacy”, but they’re not ready to make uncomfortable concessions, argues Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at International Crisis Group.
Vaez tells host Steve Clemons that Tehran and Washington are trying to “enforce their own interpretation” of the ceasefire agreement they signed last month. President Trump has become “frustrated” with diplomacy because he’s not seeing “the kind of quick results that he likes to see”, Vaez says.