President Erdogan Confident that the Riots in Iran Can Be Resolved through Dialogue

JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday described the unrest in Iran as a "new test" for Tehran, pledging that Turkey would "oppose any initiative" that would drag the region into chaos.

"We believe that with policies that prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, our brothers in Iran, InshaaAllah, will pass through this trap-filled period," President Erdogan said in a televised speech after a weekly cabinet meeting, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (20/1).

It was the first time President Erdogan had spoken about the protests that have rocked Iran, where thousands of people have been killed.

Before the latest wave of unrest, the Iranian government was struggling with an economic crisis after years of sanctions, as well as recovering from the June war against Israel.

"Our neighbor Iran, after the Israeli attack, is now facing a new test that targets its peace and social stability," President Erdogan said.

"We are all witnessing a scenario that is being tried to be written on the streets," he continued.

"With our foreign policy centered on peace and stability, we will continue to oppose any initiatives that risk dragging our region into uncertainty," President Erdogan said.

Previously, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday last week said Ankara was against a military operation against Iran, a strategy that has been repeatedly discussed by US President Donald Trump as a way to help the Iranian people in their crackdown on protests.