Iranian Embassy in Damascus

Turkey on Friday called on all sides to refrain from steps that could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East, after Israel reportedly attacked Iran in a tit-for-tat retaliation for Iran's strike.

Türkiye has reiterated its concerns that tension between Iran and Israel can turn into a permanent and wider conflict and recalled all the relevant parties to refrain from escalatory steps.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy seized the MSC ARIES container ship, reportedly linked to Israel, near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, registered under the Portuguese flag and owned by Zodiac Maritime, was last spotted heading towards the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, with US President Biden anticipating an Iranian attack on Israel soon.

Thousands of people chanted against Israel and the United States at Friday's funeral for seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals, who were killed in an air strike in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel.

Türkiye has condemned the Israeli attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus which targeted and killed several senior Iranian officials.

"We condemn the Israeli attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. Israel's action adds to its recent violations of international law," read the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry late on April 2.