Turkish diplomatic sources told Anadolu news agency that the two sides discussed the Gulf and Syrian crises in addition to the war on terrorism.
Later Tillerson held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to iron out a series of disputes on issues ranging from Syria to last year's failed coup.
He arrived in Istanbul from Ukraine.
Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in Kuwait today for talks on the Gulf crisis. Kuwait has been leading mediation efforts to resolve the crisis.
After weeks of public statements and private phone calls, Tillerson has decided to personally intervene in the ongoing Gulf dispute after Saudi Arabia and three other Arab countries have blockaded and broken relations with Qatar, home to the largest US military base in the region.
He plans to spend the week talking to leaders of the Gulf capitals, receiving them in Kuwait or shuttling among regional capitals, according to senior US officials, who cautioned that a firm schedule is not yet set.
The US has become “increasingly concerned that the dispute is at an impasse at this point,” Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the US State Department, had said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shake hands within their meeting in Istanbul, as Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu looks on.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met in Istanbul yesterday with his US counterpart Rex Tillerson, who is now visiting Turkey as he begins his tour of the region.
