The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) kicked off in Istanbul on Saturday, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Delegates from over 35 countries convened to discuss pressing regional issues under the theme "The OIC in a Transforming World."
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the summit with a strong message, stating that there is "an Israel problem in the region." He emphasized that the issue extends beyond individual countries, saying, "This is not a problem of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran; this is clearly a problem of Israel."
Fidan criticized Israel’s recent military actions, including strikes on Iran, and warned that such aggression is pushing the region "to the brink of full-scale disaster." He urged Israel to halt its attacks immediately and called on the international community to take decisive steps to prevent further escalation.
"We strongly condemn Israel’s attack on Iran while nuclear negotiations are ongoing," Fidan declared, highlighting the timing of the strikes during sensitive diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed these sentiments in his address, condemning Israel’s actions across the region as acts of "thuggery." He stated, "The definition and description of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and most recently Iran, is thuggery."
Erdogan pointed out the significance of the Israeli strike coinciding with intensified nuclear talks, calling it particularly "meaningful." He urged unity among Islamic nations, saying, "We must continue our initiatives to implement compelling measures against Israel based on international law and the UN Charter."
The two-day summit aims to foster collaboration among member states to address not only the Israel-Iran conflict but also other critical challenges facing the Islamic world. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and other high-ranking officials are participating, with total attendance expected to reach around 1,000 delegates.
The OIC foreign ministers are expected to issue a joint statement at the conclusion of the summit, outlining their collective stance and proposed actions to promote peace and stability in the region.
