Turkey Pulse

Al-Monitor Istanbul: Istanbul’s relationship with water has always been both practical and poetic, @NazlanEr writes al-monitor.com/newsletter/202…

The deadly strike on Kurdish forces underscores Tehran’s readiness to pressure US partners as Erbil is caught between Iran, Baghdad and Washington, @amberinzaman writes al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

Quoted in this @AlMonitor story by @amberinzaman: Therefore, Tuesday’s attacks “were likely devised for two reasons: First, as a warning to the Kurdistan Region against facilitating the entry of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups into Iran, which Iraqi Kurds have said they do not intend to do,” Salih told Al-Monitor. “It might also be a form of retaliation for US attacks and the rising casualties among PMF factions tied to Iran.”

ICYMI @AlMonitor — The 82nd’s immediate response force specializes in jumping into hostile territory, seizing key terrain and disrupting resistance ahead of follow-on ground forces. Deployment expected as Trump weighs options to expand the war with Iran. al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

Human rights organizations warn Ari’s detention signals a broader campaign against journalists probing government corruption and elite networks, @amberinzaman writes al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

Red flags are waving for the global economy as March PMI data released today offers a key snapshot of the Iran war’s impact on the US, Europe, UK and India

My latest for @AlMonitor "Pakistan has emerged as a potential neutral venue for US-Iran talks, leveraging its ties to both sides." With comments by @BabakVahdad @KarasikTheodore and @zeeshan_shah_dc al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

Washington proposed holding talks between Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, a Turkish source confirmed to @AlMonitor al-monitor.com/originals/2026… via @ezgi_akin

Despite accelerated cooperation as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, structural and political constraints would make a formal military alliance unlikely, @barinkayaoglu writes al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

"Lebanon on Tuesday withdrew the accreditation of Iran’s ambassador to Beirut and declared him persona non grata in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries." @beatricefarhat al-monitor.com/originals/2026… via @AlMonitor

Lebanon expels Iranian ambassador as war tensions mount al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

Journalist who investigated Erdogan’s son jailed on 'disinformation' charges in Turkey al-monitor.com/originals/2026… via @AlMonitor

Journalist who investigated Erdogan’s son jailed on 'disinformation' charges in Turkey al-monitor.com/originals/2026… via @amberinzaman

CONFIRMED: Turkish source tells @AlMonitor that US is asking for talks between VP Vance & #Iran's Ghalibaf. Turkey will be one intermediary, but Iran has yet to respond... al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

BIG: The United States has proposed holding talks between Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf a Turkish source confirms to me al-monitor.com/originals/2026…

WAR UPDATES 🚨 •Trump: Iran energy strikes paused, Witkoff speaking to "top person" •Ghalibaf says "no negotiations held" with US, Israeli media reports he's leading talks •oil down 12% •Oman working on "safe passage" thru Hormuz al-monitor.com/live-blog/trum…

Rapid Iran developments this a.m • Trump pauses energy strikes • Witkoff talking to 'top person' • Israeli media: Ghalibaf @mb_ghalibaf • Possible meeting in Pakistan: @BarakRavid • Oil prices see ~10% drop al-monitor.com/live-blog/trum…

🇹🇷🇰🇼🇸🇦🇶🇦🇦🇪🇴🇲🇧🇭 Can Türkiye, Gulf Arab countries forge a defense and security pact after the US-Israel-Iran war? Check out my latest for @AlMonitor, with immense gratitude to @SinemCngz & @AliBakeer for their insights and comments. al-monitor.com/originals/2026… @TurkeyPulse

…and a gaze from Çanakkale Biennial to Malta:)

The best podcast on town - @amberinzaman!