John Bass

Western states have sought to send Iran messages via Turkey in recent days to reiterate appeals for de-escalation, a Western diplomat said on Friday.

The messages were conveyed before reported Israeli attacks on Iran early on Friday, after which Tehran indicated it had no plans for further retaliation.

Senior Turkish and American diplomats have exchanged views on unfolding developments in the Middle East and the Ukraine-Russia war, as well as bilateral ties ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's planned trip to Washington in early May.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with U.S. Under Secretary for Management John Bass at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in capital Ankara on Monday, according to the ministry.

Senior Turkish and American officials will meet in the Turkish capital to discuss joint efforts to improve bilateral ties and discuss regional issues, including the situation in Gaza and Russia's occupation of Ukraine.

Under Secretary of State Department John Bass will be in Ankara on April 15 and 16, the State Department has announced.

American embassy staffers were airlifted from Sudan early Sunday, as forces loyal to rival generals battled for control of Africa's third-largest nation for a ninth day amid fading hopes for deescalation.

The warring sides said they were helping coordinate the evacuation of foreigners, though continued exchanges of fire in Sudan's capital undermined those claims.

U.S. Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell on May 13 released a list of former Obama administration officials accused of "unmasking" former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

The United States decided on Sunday to suspend the issuing of visas to Turkish citizens at U.S. diplomatic missions (which Turkey immediately reciprocated) after the Turkish government arrested multiple staffers of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

Turkey will boycott the upcoming meetings of its representatives with the US ambassador to the country, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

The US Senate voted in favor of the appointment of former Utah Governor John Huntsman as the country's ambassador to Moscow, Reuters reports.

The Senate approved Huntsman, who was the US ambassador to Beijing during former President Barack Obama. He was also an ambassador to Singapore during President George W. Bush.

The rift between Turkey and its biggest military ally the U.S. is continuing over two major issues. One is the ongoing activities of Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-resident Islamist preacher accused of being behind the military coup attempt of July 15, 2016.