--- title: "Erdogan urges Trump to pursue Iran talks and highlights Gaza attacks" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks" category: "Politics" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-17T23:46:09.507Z" source_reported: "2026-08-17T22:51:25.000Z" updated: "2026-08-17T23:46:09.507Z" trust_score: 66 critic_score: 62 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-18T00:35:51.802Z" --- # Erdogan urges Trump to pursue Iran talks and highlights Gaza attacks *Turkish president discusses regional tensions and defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in call with US counterpart* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 66 of 100, higher is better. Trust 66: official Turkish presidency statement cited and multiple independent outlets reported the call, with specific date and location. - Craft 62 of 100, higher is better. Critic 62: provides reasons for the call, but largely repeats press release without added reporting. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is factual with no sensationalist phrasing or exaggerated headlines. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged US President Donald Trump to pursue talks with Iran to de-escalate tensions, as reported by the Turkish presidency. - The call also covered the Gaza conflict, a defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and increased Israeli attacks on Palestinians during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. - Left-rated Cumhuriyet and centre-rated Devdiscourse led on Erdogan’s diplomatic push, while right-rated outlets emphasised regional security and the defence pact. - None of the right-rated digests mentioned the Turkish presidency’s statement on the timing of Israeli attacks relative to Trump’s peace plan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with US President Donald Trump on 17 August 2026. The Turkish presidency’s Communications Directorate said Erdogan urged Trump to pursue talks with Iran to reduce tensions between the two countries. Erdogan offered Turkey’s support for peace efforts, as reported by Cumhuriyet and Devdiscourse. The leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a defence agreement signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and bilateral relations between Turkey and the US. The Turkish presidency stated that Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza had increased during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan, a detail carried by Cumhuriyet and Devdiscourse. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned the Turkish presidency’s statement that Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza had increased during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. The left-rated Cumhuriyet and centre-rated Devdiscourse carried the detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 18% (2) - Centre: 27% (3) - Right: 55% (6) 6 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-18T00:35:51.802Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-18T00:45:22.399Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Cumhuriyet led on Erdogan’s call for diplomacy in US-Iran tensions, quoting the Turkish presidency’s statement that "diplomacy should be utilised to the maximum extent" and that Turkey would continue to support peace efforts. The report also carried Erdogan’s concern over increased Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan, and his emphasis on Turkey’s role in regional stability through the defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. ### Centre - Devdiscourse, one of the two centre-rated outlets with a full report, led on Erdogan’s offer of Turkey’s support for peace initiatives and his call for sustained dialogue with Iran. The report included Erdogan’s concerns about Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan, and noted the defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. - WTVB’s digest, sourced from Reuters, carried Erdogan’s urging of Trump to pursue talks with Iran and Turkey’s offer of support for peace efforts. It did not mention the defence agreement or the timing of Israeli attacks. ### Right - The four right-rated digests, The Straits Times, Mehr News Agency, Anadolu Ajansı and Daily Sabah, all led on Erdogan’s call for talks with Iran and Turkey’s offer of support. Mehr News Agency and Anadolu Ajansı also mentioned the defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which The Straits Times and Daily Sabah did not. - None of the right-rated digests mentioned the Turkish presidency’s statement that Israeli attacks on Palestinians had increased during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 5 - high: 4 - unknown: 7 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/us-news/us-iran-war-news-latest-live-updates-donald-trump-erdogan-peace-talks-ceasefire-extension-strait-of-hormuz-araghchi-11787009990163.html) — US-Iran war news LIVE: As US-Iran peace prospects dim, Turkish President Erdogan urges Trump to pursue talks - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/18/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-talks-with-iran-offers-support) — Erdogan urges Trump to pursue talks with Iran, offers support - [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/08/17/erdogan-apela-a-trump-para-que-mantenha-negociaes-com-o-ir.ghtml) — Erdogan Calls on Trump to Hold Negotiations with Iran - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-talks-with-iran-offers-support) — Erdogan urges Trump to pursue talks with Iran peace - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/08/17/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-talks-with-iran-offers-support) — Erdogan urges Trump to pursue talks with Iran, offers support - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3964769-diplomatic-dialogue-bridging-tensions-for-global-peace) — Diplomatic Dialogue: Bridging Tensions for Global Peace - [Mehr News Agency](https://mehrnews.com/news/6919751/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%B1-%DA%AF%D9%81%D8%AA-%D9%88%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%81%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE) — Iran and Gaza Are the Focus of Erdogan and Trump's Phone Conversation - [skai.gr](https://skai.gr/news/world/tilefoniki-epikoinonia-erntogan-tramp-gia-iran-gaza-kai-dimereis-sxeseis) — Erdogan - Trump Phone Call on Iran, Gaza and Bilateral Relations - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/erdogan-trump-discuss-bilateral-ties-iran-and-gaza-in-phone-call/4030030) — Erdogan, Trump discuss bilateral ties, Iran and Gaza in phone call - [Halk TV](https://halktv.com.tr/dunya/son-dakika-erdogan-ve-trump-telefonda-gorustu-1049498h) — Erdoğan and Trump Spoke on the Phone. - [Cumhuriyet](https://cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/erdogan-trump-ile-gorustu-gundem-abd-turkiye-iliskileri-2529926) — Erdoğan Met with Trump: The Agenda Was US-Türkiye Relations. - [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/erdogan-urges-trump-to-prioritize-dialogue-with-iran-amid-gulf-tensions) — Erdogan urges Trump to prioritize dialogue with Iran amid Gulf tensions - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-abd-baskani-trump-ile-20153510-haberi) — President Erdoğan Spoke with US President Trump by Phone. - [Akşam](https://aksam.com.tr/guncel/baskan-erdogandan-trumpa-kritik-telefon-iran-ve-gazze-masaya-yatirildi/haber-1691397) — President Erdoğan Made a Crucial Phone Call to Trump: Iran and Gaza Were Discussed. - [A Haber](https://ahaber.com.tr/gundem/2026/08/18/baskan-erdogan-donald-trump-ile-gorustu) — President Erdoğan Met with Donald Trump. - [Daily Sabah](https://dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/erdogan-trump-discuss-iran-tensions-gaza-peace-process) — Erdoğan, Trump discuss Iran tensions, Gaza peace process - [Al-Monitor](https://al-monitor.com/originals/2026/08/erdogan-urges-trump-pursue-talks-iran-offers-support) — Erdogan urges Trump to pursue talks with Iran, offers support ## Questions **What did Erdogan urge Trump to do about Iran?** Erdogan urged Trump to pursue talks with Iran to de-escalate tensions, as reported by the Turkish presidency. He offered Turkey’s support for peace efforts and emphasised the importance of diplomacy, a detail carried by Cumhuriyet and Devdiscourse. **Which regional issues did Erdogan and Trump discuss?** Erdogan and Trump discussed the Gaza conflict, a defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and bilateral relations. The Turkish presidency also noted increased Israeli attacks on Palestinians during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. **Did all outlets report the timing of Israeli attacks in Gaza?** No. The left-rated Cumhuriyet and centre-rated Devdiscourse reported the Turkish presidency’s statement that Israeli attacks on Palestinians had increased during the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. None of the right-rated digests mentioned this detail. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Erdogan urges Trump to pursue Iran talks and highlights Gaza attacks", https://mediabias.news/politics/erdogan-urges-trump-to-pursue-iran-talks-and-highlights-gaza-attacks