Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Donald Trump about extending the ceasefire between the US and Iran, telling him the truce is a positive step and that contested issues between the two nations can be resolved. The Turkish Presidency confirmed the call, which comes as Erdogan works to carve out a mediator role in one of the most consequential geopolitical standoffs of 2025.
The conversation signals that Ankara is actively trying to keep diplomatic channels open between Washington and Tehran at a moment when the situation could easily tip toward military escalation. For anyone watching energy markets, commodity prices, or risk assets like crypto, this is the kind of phone call that matters.
What Erdogan is angling for
Turkey has a long history of trying to play both sides of major geopolitical divides, and this is a textbook example. Erdogan is positioning Turkey as a bridge between the US and Iran, two countries that don’t exactly have each other on speed dial.
By telling Trump that the ceasefire extension is a good thing and that thorny disputes can still be worked out, Erdogan is essentially making the case for patience. The subtext: don’t blow this up over the hard stuff when the easy win of continued peace is sitting right there.
