Tehran – Foreign ministers from member states of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) have been convened in Istanbul to deal with the recent escalation of Israeli military action against Iran.
The special session attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut with his counterparts and representatives of various member states aims to coordinate a unified response to Israel’s violation of Iran’s sovereignty.
The meeting was scheduled before recent events, but was swiftly held after Israel’s aggressive strike against Iran. Araguchi emphasized that Iran had requested this emergency session. He expressed his hope that the summit would strongly and explicitly condemn Israel’s actions.
Upon arriving in Turkey for consultation, Araguchi said, “A summit for the OIC Foreign Ministers was planned for this date. However, given the recent developments, including Israel’s invasion of our country, we have requested a special session on this issue.” He added that he intends to use the platform to hold side meetings with the Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General of the OIC and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “We aim to ensure that the voices of the oppressed are heard and the legitimacy of Iran’s defense is recognized,” he said.
During the sidelines of the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Araguchi also met with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Fahan for discussions on regional tensions. Additionally, Qatar’s Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met with Araguchi to discuss Israel’s actions against Iran. Qatar’s official statement highlighted the efforts that Qatar and its partners would promote negotiations between all involved parties and highlight diplomacy as an important path to desertion.
Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan announced during his meeting with Araguchi that Turkey is ready to mediate nuclear negotiations. Erdogan said resuming diplomatic talks was essential to resolve the nuclear conflict and prompted a direct dialogue between US and Iranian officials as soon as possible. “Resuming negotiations is the only way,” Erdogan emphasized, reaffirming his willingness to work as a Turkish mediator.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Huad Hussein called for an immediate halt of Israel’s attacks on Iran during his meeting with Araguchi. Hussein argued that “Israel aggression must be stopped soon,” emphasizing the protection of civilians and spurring increased political efforts through international channels. He also emphasized that prompt return to negotiations is extremely important for regional stability.
In a related discussion, Araguchi met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The two officials discussed regional security concerns over Safadi’s warnings about US military intervention in conflicts involving Iran or Israel. Mehr’s news agency cited Araghchi to the Associated Press as highlighting fears of potential escalations, saying that “the aggressive US intervention in the war with Israel is extremely dangerous to everyone.”
On June 13, 2025, the Israeli regime began air and drone strikes against Iran’s territory. The Israeli strike began as Iran and the United States were in the process of negotiating a new contract for Iran’s nuclear program and enrichment activities.
On June 21, an Iranian government spokesman reported that at least 400 people had been killed in the Israeli attack, including dozens of women and children. The Ministry of Health also said 1,800 people were injured.