Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul on Friday and urged the US and Israel not to renew attacks on Iran. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said diplomacy was the only way to end the war, and France's foreign minister said escalation would 'create nothing but losers'. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, France and Britain were ready to negotiate with Iran to ensure it does not acquire nuclear weapons.
The four countries signed the Badr memorandum of understanding laying groundwork for joint production of military hardware and wider cooperation in training, research and development. It follows a Makkah defense agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August.
Turkey's government submitted the Mecca defense pact, signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August, to parliament for ratification. The text commits signatories to one another's defense, similar to NATO's Article 5, according to Middle East Eye. A Saudi envoy met Pakistan's army chief to discuss progress under the agreement.
Halk TV, an opposition-leaning independent news channel in Turkey, went offline after a police raid. Government-appointed administrators were installed.