On 17 April, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye stated, ''Freedom of navigation must be guaranteed in accordance with established rules, and the Strait of Hormuz should be opened to commercial vessels.''
According to the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, President Erdoğan made the statement during his opening speech at the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) held on the same day, saying, "On one side of the strait is Iran, and on the other is Oman; the Gulf countries’ right of access to the open sea must not be restricted.''
This statement came before the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, of Iran announced that Iran had temporarily lifted passage restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, in light of the ceasefire situation in Lebanon.
President Erdoğan noted that, taking advantage of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, the search for alternative routes for transporting energy resources has accelerated, stressing, "Türkiye is ready to cooperate with neighbouring countries in the fields of energy and connectivity through future-oriented projects."
Stating that ''this war, which began with the provocation of the Israeli government, is meaningless and has led to significant losses", President Erdoğan added, "I welcome the announcement of a 15-day ceasefire, led by my dear brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.''
President Erdoğan, referring to the Russia–Ukraine war, said, "I believe the war will end through fair and equal negotiations," adding, "If the parties wish, Türkiye is ready to make all necessary preparations for direct talks, including summit-level meetings.''
On the same day, President Erdoğan held a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, who has mediated dialogue between the United States and Iran, and the Amir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss Iran and other regional issues.