In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais published on Monday, the Turkish prime minister responded to a question on the potential consequences of a pre-emptive Israeli strike on the Islamic republic, saying, “This would have unforeseeable consequences that I would not even want to imagine.”
Reiterating Ankara’s stance favoring a resolution to the dispute between the West and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program through diplomatic channels, Erdoğan emphasized that economic sanctions would also have an impact on the entire region.
“Don’t leave the negotiating table until the end of the process,” he said.
Also on Monday, Erdoğan, who was in Spain for an official visit, responded to questions on Iran’s nuclear program following a conference at Madrid-based think tank Nueva Economía Fórum.
“Turkey’s approach concerning Iran’s nuclear program is very open and clear. We have never been supportive of the manufacturing of nuclear weapons in our region,” Erdoğan said when asked whether Turkey considered Iran a “threat.”
“That’s why I believe that it would be fair if particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council voice their sensitivity over this issue in regards to the region in general. But nobody, particularly the US, is opposed to any step taken for humanitarian goals. It is normal if it has humanitarian purposes. But if it is the manufacturing of a nuclear weapon, then it is not appropriate at all,” Erdoğan added, referring to Iran’s nuclear program, while also noting that Turkey is still hopeful for a diplomatic resolution to the issue.
