Israel’s foreign minister said Tuesday that an upcoming peace conference in the United States offers a crucial opportunity for progress, amid growing optimism that this time — just maybe — momentum for peace is real and sustainable.

Tens of thousands of Turkish troops were poised Tuesday on the border with Iraq awaiting the order to attack Kurdish fighters, and President Abdullah Gul said the country will do “what it believes to be right” to tame the rebels.

Expansion of all-out relations with all the neighboring and friendly countries sets the main policy of the Islamic Republic, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said.