US President Donald Trump made a striking statement about Iran ahead of his visit to Ankara. Trump intimidated the Tehran administration, saying, "I would prefer to make a deal with Iran. Otherwise, we could destroy all power generation plants within an hour."
Trump's remarks came at a time when diplomatic contacts with Iran are ongoing. The US President's statements are seen as potentially raising tensions in the region.
Busy schedule in Ankara
According to a White House statement, President Trump will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday. Trump, who is expected to be welcomed with an official ceremony by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will first attend the NATO leaders' dinner.
On Wednesday, the US President will take part in the NATO leaders' session and family photo, and will hold meetings with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and the leader of the new administration in Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa. After his contacts, Trump will hold a press conference to assess developments within the scope of his Türkiye visit.
Trump is scheduled to return to Washington that same evening on the new Boeing 747 Air Force One aircraft, which is being used for the first time on a foreign trip.
Ukraine war and regional security
According to information provided by senior US officials to Anadolu Agency, diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine will be at the center of Trump's meeting with Zelenskiy.
The US official noted that the front line has largely frozen in recent months, and said, "We feel urgency to end the war." It was emphasized that the US side continues contacts with both Russia and Ukraine, and that President Trump is playing a mediating role.
Officials underlined that the continuation of the war causes heavy losses and destruction for both sides, and that diplomatic solution efforts will be accelerated.
Iran risk and defense cooperation
Another senior US official reported that regional security risks originating from Iran and the protection of maritime trade routes will be on the agenda at the summit in Ankara. The official stated that NATO allies are ready to contribute, but many countries lack sufficient naval assets and military capacity, saying, "What we need is capable allies. Some countries do not have ships and assets to make a meaningful contribution."
It was also noted that new cooperation and production agreements for the US defense industry could be announced during the summit, and that multibillion-dollar defense projects will be discussed.
