Iran denies missile launch toward Turkey amid conflicting reports

Iran's Armed Forces on Thursday denied reports that a missile had been fired toward Turkey, contradicting claims from Ankara that a ballistic missile from Iran was intercepted over the eastern Mediterranean.

In a statement carried by state media, the Iranian military said it "respects the sovereignty of Turkiye" and insisted that no missile had been launched, said Al Jazeera.

The denial follows a report from Turkiye's Ministry of National Defence, which said that a ballistic missile launched from Iran was detected passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being engaged by NATO air and missile defence systems on Wednesday. The ministry said the missile was destroyed in a "timely manner," and that there were no casualties.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the nation, stating that Turkiye is taking "all necessary precautions" and issuing "warnings in the clearest terms" to prevent a recurrence. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also lodged a formal protest during a call with his Iranian counterpart.

A NATO spokesperson, Allison Hart, condemned the alleged targeting of Turkiye and reaffirmed that the organization "stands firmly with all Allies." US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the missile's destruction was not expected to trigger NATO's Article 5 clause, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

The incident comes amid ongoing regional tensions. US and Israeli strikes across Iran have reportedly caused more than 1,000 deaths. Turkiye continues to consult with NATO allies to secure its borders and airspace, and the Incirlik Air Base remains a critical hub for joint Turkish-US and NATO operations.