Özgür Özel, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), condemned Israeli and US strikes on Iran on Saturday, saying Turkey should pursue careful diplomacy that protects civilians and respects Iran’s territorial integrity.
The comments came as Ankara weighs contingency plans for a wider Iran crisis, including how to handle a possible refugee surge. Bloomberg reported that Turkish officials have discussed options that could include creating a buffer area near the border in the event of a power vacuum in Tehran.
Speaking at a CHP rally in Burdur province in southwest Turkey, Özel said Iran’s record on women’s rights and its treatment of its own people are widely criticized but argued that that did not give US President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the right to claim they were “saving” Iranians.
Özel said Iran’s future should be decided by Iranians, adding that any democratic change in Iran should come from within rather than through outside military action.
Turkey borders Iran and has tried to avoid spillover from regional conflicts, including risks to civilians, trade and transport routes.