He also added that the ongoing conflict poses a threat to the security of countries in the region. On March 18, Fidan visited Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Arabia, where the parties agreed on joint efforts to cease attacks and establish a ceasefire, as well as to diplomatically resolve the crisis.
Furthermore, Hakan Fidan directly pointed to Israel as the main culprit of the current conflict, stating: "It should be clearly stated that it is Israel that is the cause of the war that has led our region to an unprecedented crisis."
According to the minister, the strikes initiated amid diplomatic negotiations have turned the region into a "huge battlefield" and undermined stability on a global level. He also highlighted the need to remind Iran of its "historical responsibility."
It is worth noting that on February 28, the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes against Iran, after which Tehran responded with attacks on neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf and Israel using missiles and drones. Iran claims that the targets included, among others, American military bases in the region.
Oil storage facilities in the Persian Gulf countries, oil tankers, as well as facilities in Azerbaijan and Cyprus, which is part of the European Union, were also hit.
In the context of the military operation by the U.S. and Israel, Tehran effectively closed the movement through the Strait of Hormuz and announced "full control" over it, which led to a rise in energy prices.
