Trump has threatened military intervention against Iran over its crackdown on protests, which rights groups say killed thousands. However, rhetoric on the issue has shifted in recent days so that the threat of military action is hanging over Tehran unless it returns to the talks on the issue of its contentious nuclear program<\/a>.<\/p>\n A US naval strike group arrived in Middle East waters on Monday with Trump warning it was \u201cready, willing and able\u201d to hit Iran \u201cif necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition \t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n Since Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran and Russia have deepened ties, with Western countries accusing Iran of providing missiles and drones for Russian attacks, though Tehran denies that.<\/p>\n \t The two countries also signed<\/a> a \u201cstrategic partnership\u201d treaty last year.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Turkey\u2019s foreign minister will offer to mediate between the two countries during a visit by his Iranian counterpart on Friday, officials said, as Ankara considers reinforcing security along its border should the dispute escalate.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will tell Araghchi on Friday that his country \u201cis ready to contribute to resolving the current tensions through dialogue,\u201d a Turkish diplomatic source said.<\/p>\n Fidan would reiterate Turkey\u2019s opposition \u201cto military interventions against Iran\u2026 [over] the regional and global risks such a step would entail,\u201d said the source, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.<\/p>\n The minister had on Wednesday stressed the need for Washington and Tehran to resume discussions over the Iranian nuclear program, suggesting that it was the top priority to be resolved.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wrong to attack Iran. It\u2019s wrong to start the war again. Iran is ready to negotiate on the nuclear file again,\u201d Fidan had told Al-Jazeera television.<\/p>\n \u201cTurkey supports reaching a peaceful solution to Iran\u2019s nuclear program in the near term and is ready to provide assistance if needed in this regard,\u201d the foreign ministry source said.<\/p>\n \t Contingency plans<\/p>\n Alongside its diplomatic push, Ankara is assessing additional security precautions along its border with Iran if a US strike destabilizes the country, a senior Turkish official told AFP.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the United States attacks Iran and the regime falls, Turkey is planning additional measures to reinforce border security,\u201d said the official, who also requested anonymity.<\/p>\n Much of the 500-kilometer (310-mile) frontier is secured by a wall, but \u201cit has proven insufficient,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n \t The Turkish authorities have so far avoided the term \u201cbuffer zone,\u201d but options under review include deploying more troops and expanding technological surveillance systems, the official added.<\/p>\n Turkey began building a concrete wall in 2021 as concerns grew about a potential influx of migrants following the Taliban\u2019s takeover of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n So far, officials say there is no sign of mass movement toward Turkey linked to developments in Iran. Earlier this month, the Turkish defense ministry said it had detected \u201cno evidence\u201d of large\u2011scale migration.<\/p>\n Unmanned aerial vehicles continue to conduct round\u2011the\u2011clock reconnaissance along the frontier.<\/p>\n To date, authorities have completed installation of 203 electro\u2011optical towers, 43 lift towers, 380 kilometers of modular concrete wall, and 553 kilometers of trenches, according to official figures.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, September 1, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26018556059989-e1769684604507-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks in a joint press briefing with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran, Iran, January 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Vahid Salemi)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AFP__20250619__62YW7T2__v1__HighRes__TurkeyIranIsraelPoliticsConflict-e1769684728601-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tIranian and Turkish flags fly in Turkey at the Razi-Kapikoy border crossing, north-eastern Turkey, on June 19, 2025. (Yasin AKGUL \/ AFP)<\/p>\n
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