Erdogan Issues Stern Warning to Tehran – ‘Wrong and Provocative Steps’ Could Strain Relations

Kathmandu / Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that his country remains on high alert amid escalating regional tensions. Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, he warned that ‘provocative steps’ could damage relations with Tehran.

“Despite our warnings, wrong and provocative steps that could strain Türkiye’s friendship continue to be taken,” he said. He urged that no one should take actions that would cast a shadow over the thousand-year-old neighborly and brotherly ties.

Erdogan’s remarks came after a missile launched from Iran was intercepted over Türkiye’s southeastern province of Gaziantep on Monday morning. The ballistic munition, which had entered Turkish airspace, was neutralized by NATO’s air and missile defence assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to the Defense Ministry, there were no casualties or injuries in the incident.

“We are closely monitoring all developments with our experienced teams. We are not letting our guard down. Our goal is to keep our country away from this fire,” Erdogan stated.

He noted that Türkiye had delivered the necessary warnings to Iran, but wrong steps continued to be taken despite those warnings. “Our F-16s, airborne early warning aircraft and tanker planes are monitoring our airspace 24/7 against possible threats,” the president informed.