Turkish FM Says Airstrikes Won’t Topple Iran Regime, Urges Diplomacy to Avoid War
ANKARA, Feb. 10: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that airstrikes against Iran would not lead to the collapse of its regime, warning that military action would only weaken the state and risk destabilizing the region.
Speaking in a live interview with CNN Türk, Fidan dismissed the idea that bombing Iran could bring regime change, calling it unrealistic.
“The regime will not change through an airstrike or anything else. That is a pipedream,” he said, adding that military pressure could weaken the government’s ability to govern and push it toward more radical decisions.
His remarks come as Iran and the United States prepare for another round of negotiations, which resumed in Oman after an eight-month pause. Fidan said the Iran issue remains a major focus on the global agenda and stressed that the Middle East cannot afford another conflict.
“Our president is showing maximum sensitivity on this matter. We want to use every available means to prevent a possible war,” he said.
Fidan said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had briefed him on the talks and that Ankara is also in contact with Washington. While acknowledging the complexity of the crisis, he noted a willingness among all sides to continue negotiations and called for more creative diplomatic solutions.
He added that there is currently no immediate threat of war, describing the opening of dialogue channels as a positive development.
Fidan argued that international tensions with Iran stem more from its policies than from its political system, warning that focusing solely on regime change risks ignoring deeper systemic issues.
He highlighted Iran’s dual power structure, with an elected government operating alongside a supreme leader with religious and political authority, describing it as a rare concentration of power.
Addressing Iran’s nuclear activities, Fidan said Tehran does not possess nuclear weapons, and there is no evidence it intends to build them. He explained that while Iran insists on uranium enrichment, a religious decree by the supreme leader prohibits nuclear weapons.
“With this fatwa in place, the system cannot produce a bomb,” he said, adding that Iran has not taken steps toward weaponization, such as developing warheads or integrating them with delivery systems.
However, he noted questions remain about why Iran continues high-level enrichment despite claiming no intention to develop nuclear arms, as such actions have triggered sanctions and international suspicion.
Fidan warned that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it could disrupt the regional balance of power and trigger a wider arms race, forcing other countries, including Türkiye, to respond.
“Such a development would seriously damage the spirit of cooperation in the region. I do not think this would benefit anyone,” he said.