Nato said it shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace on Monday, prompting a stern warning from Turkiye to Tehran not to take "provocative steps".

The Turkish and Iranian presidents spoke by telephone after the second such incident over Nato member Turkiye in five days, according to Iranian media. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian offered to set up a joint inquiry.

The missile was reported just after the United States urged all American citizens to leave southeastern Turkiye, where US troops are stationed at several bases.

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran started, Tehran has launched strikes across the Middle East. Turkiye had appeared to have been spared, despite the presence of US troops, including at Incirlik airbase just outside the southern city of Adana.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the missile incident the country would "take the necessary measures to defend our nation".

"Despite our sincere warnings, extremely wrong and provocative steps continue to be taken that will jeopardise Turkiye's friendship," he said after a cabinet meeting.

"Persistence and stubbornness in wrongdoing should be avoided."

Iranian media said that in a call with Erdogan late Monday, Pezeshkian offered to set up a joint inquiry into "the allegations of countries and regimes hostile to Iran, in order to clear up the misunderstanding".

Pezeshkian was quoted as saying that the United States and Israel wanted to "sow discord" between Iran and its neighbours.

The call came after Turkiye summoned the Iranian ambassador over the incident, foreign ministry sources said.

It did the same on March 4 after Nato forces intercepted a first Turkiye-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran.

The United States closed its consulate in Adana and advised non-essential staff and all family members to leave.

Turkiye's defence ministry later confirmed that a ballistic missile fired from Iran had been intercepted by Nato defence systems.

"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by Nato air and missile defence assets in the eastern Mediterranean," it said.

"Nato has again intercepted a missile heading to Turkiye. Nato stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat," alliance spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2026-03-10 HKT 08:09



Edited by Cecil Wong