Erdogan pushes diplomacy to end US-Iran war as Hormuz blockade hits oil markets

Turkish President Erdogan met Iranian President Pezeshkian at COP31 in Antalya Tuesday, urging immediate negotiations to end the nine-month US-Iran war. The conflict erupted February 28 when US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader Khamenei, triggering Iranian missile attacks and drawing in regional militias across Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.

Erdogan said "diplomacy should resume without further delay" and Turkey will support peace efforts. Qatar and Pakistan are mediating, but Tehran demands Washington unfreeze assets, lift sanctions, and accept Iran's terms to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—the critical oil chokepoint Iran has blockaded since the war began.

For Nigeria, the Hormuz closure keeps global oil prices volatile. As an OPEC producer, Nigeria benefits from higher crude prices but faces rising refined fuel import costs. The war's environmental damage, which Pezeshkian highlighted at the climate summit, adds another dimension to regional instability.

With no ceasefire in sight and both sides hardening positions, the diplomatic window Erdogan advocates for remains uncertain. Will Nigeria leverage high crude prices to fix refineries, or will pump prices rise again if the blockade persists?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/11/12/erdogan-urges-return-to-diplomacy-to-end-iran-us-conflict/