Bahçeli's Sharp Reaction to Trump: Agreement is a State Commitment, Not an Individual One

Bahçeli’s Sharp Criticism of Trump’s Unilateral Approach

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), today, July 14, 2026, at his party's weekly parliamentary group meeting, sharply criticized the recent positions of United States President Donald Trump regarding Iran. Referring to Trump's statements during the recent NATO summit in Ankara, where he called the memorandum with Iran "finished," Bahçeli emphasized that such an approach severely damages the credibility of global diplomacy [1].

In his speech, he stated: "An agreement or memorandum is not the commitment of a person, but the commitment of a state." Bahçeli believes that the unilateral cancellation of agreements that have not even been signed for a month indicates instability in Washington's foreign policy and will result in no country trusting the signatures of American officials in the future [3].

NATO Summit in Ankara and New Tensions

This reaction followed Donald Trump's announcement to reporters during the NATO leaders' summit in Ankara (July 7-8) that the ceasefire and memorandum with Tehran were over for him [4]. Trump addressed Iranian leaders with a harsh tone, calling negotiations with them a waste of time. This comes as the region was seeking a path to relative stability following the intense conflicts of February, known as the "2026 Iran War" [2].

Bahçeli said regarding this: "It is a matter of serious concern that such statements are made exactly during the NATO summit on Turkish soil. No state should suddenly find itself under bombardment and military attacks while adhering to an agreement." He noted that recent attacks on Iranian soil, while the memorandum was still valid on paper, have stripped away trust in global peace [1][3].

Warning about Regional Consequences and International Credibility

The MHP leader warned that if tensions between Washington and Tehran are not quickly contained, the region will face a larger catastrophe. He called on both parties to return to their mutual commitments and emphasized that the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of the Middle East can only be ensured through sustainable diplomacy and respect for the national sovereignty of countries [2].

In another part of his speech, Bahçeli also referred to NATO-related issues, including the necessity of lifting CAATSA sanctions against Turkey and returning to the F-35 project, adding that Turkey will remain the compass of global politics during this sensitive period [2][1]. He emphasized that peace in the region should not fall victim to the momentary and personal decisions of the leaders of great powers.

Necessity of Returning to the Negotiating Table

In conclusion, Devlet Bahçeli called on the international community to stand against unilateral actions that threaten the global order. He noted that Iran, as one of the parties to the agreement, should not be attacked while fulfilling its commitments, and Washington must weigh the consequences of its military interventions [3][1].