UNIPA news(Istanbul) 05 July-Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without the active involvement of regional countries and warned against actions that could undermine the U.S.-Iran peace agreement.

Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, Erdogan said durable solutions must be based on the will and contributions of countries in the region.

Erdogan accused Israel of attempting to undermine the U.S.-Iran agreement and said efforts that could jeopardize the deal should not be allowed to destabilize the region. He also reiterated Turkey’s criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Turkey, a NATO member that shares a border with Iran, has consistently supported diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions and has backed the U.S.-Iran agreement mediated by Pakistan.

In addition to regional security issues, Erdogan said Turkey and Pakistan aim to expand bilateral cooperation in energy, transport, critical minerals, information technology, and defense. He reaffirmed the two countries’ goal of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Earlier in the day, government officials and business representatives from both countries attended a business forum in Istanbul to explore opportunities for deeper economic cooperation.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Turkish companies are interested in participating in infrastructure and energy projects in Pakistan and sharing Turkey’s expertise as Pakistan continues reforms in its electricity sector.