Turkey ‘optimistic’ Middle East ceasefire will be extended: foreign minister

Turkey said it remained “optimistic” that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States set to expire on Wednesday would be extended. “No one wants to see a new war break out when the ceasefire expires next week. We hope ... the parties will extend the ceasefire,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. “I hope there’ll be an extension. I am optimistic,” he said. Speaking to reporters at a diplomacy forum in the southern province of Antalya, he said that while negotiations between Washington and Iran are “largely complete”, there are still a number of disagreements. Fidan also said the ceasefire, set to expire on Wednesday, should be extended. Land grabbing from Isreal Fidan accused Israel of land-grabs in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire. Turkiye accused Israel of seeking to create a “fait accompli” in Lebanon despite an agreed ceasefire, with the foreign minister denouncing “Israeli expansionism.” “The ongoing Iran-United States negotiations seem to be overshadowing this situation (in Lebanon). Israel appears to be trying to take advantage of this distraction to create a fait accompli,” he added. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on April 15 that Ankara was working to extend a ceasefire between ​the US and Iran, ease tensions, and ensure the continuation of ‌talks, and added Turkey was hopeful of negotiations despite stumbling blocks. Turkey, a neighbour of Iran, has been in close touch with the US, Iran, and mediator Pakistan. It ​has repeatedly called for an end to the war that it ​says is unjustified.