Russia-Turkey Diplomatic Meeting: De-escalation Cooperation on Iran Discussed

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Rudenko met with Turkey's Ambassador to Russia T. Bilgiç to discuss the regional situation around Iran following US and Israeli military operations against Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure. The two sides discussed prospects for Russia-Turkey cooperation in the interests of de-escalation in the Iran crisis. The meeting reflects Turkey's positioning as a potential diplomatic bridge between Western-aligned actors and Russia amid the broader Middle East crisis. President Erdoğan told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on April 22 that Turkey was making efforts to revive diplomatic channels. Turkey has historically positioned itself as a mediator — hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks in 2022 and maintaining functional relations with both Washington and Moscow. Turkey has significant economic interests in Iran and opposes a major regional war that would threaten Turkish energy security, trade routes, and refugee flows.