Foreign ministers from 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathered in Istanbul this weekend, as tensions between Israel and Iran dominated discussions at the 51st Council of Foreign Ministers session. The meeting, themed "The OIC in a Transforming World," focused on addressing security challenges following recent Israeli military actions.
Turkish Leadership Condemns Escalation
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the summit with sharp criticism of Israel, stating: "There is an Israel problem in the region. This is not a problem of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran; this is clearly a problem of Israel." He warned that recent attacks on Iran risked pushing the Middle East to "the brink of full-scale disaster."
Erdogan Calls for Islamic Unity
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's military actions as "thuggery," particularly criticizing the timing of strikes during nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. "We must implement compelling measures against Israel based on international law," Erdogan urged, calling for greater unity among Islamic nations despite internal differences.
High-Level Participation
The two-day summit attracted over 35 foreign ministers, including Iran's Seyed Abbas Araghchi, with total attendance nearing 1,000 delegates. Discussions are expected to shape coordinated responses to regional security challenges and economic cooperation among member states.
