TEHRAN – Foreign Ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia have emphasized the urgent need for unity within the Islamic world to counter Israel’s efforts to forcibly drive Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi met with Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Fahan on the sidelines of an extraordinary session of the Islamic Cooperative Organization (OIC) held in Jeddah on Friday.
The two diplomats reaffirmed the need for the Islamic world to focus on Palestinian causes and on attempts to erase Palestine through massive displacements.
During their speech, Araguchi and Faisal bin Fahan acknowledged the progress of Iran-Saudi relations and expressed the state’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic and strategic relations according to the vision of their respective leaders.
Araguchi arrived in Jeddah a day ago and attended the High Stakes OIC meeting. This was convened to address Israeli military action in Gaza and a wider campaign against Palestinians.
A key topic of discussion is a recent proposal by former US President Donald Trump, suggesting that Washington could potentially take control of Gaza with the support of the US military and turn it into the so-called “West Asian Riviera.” The proposal was widely criticized by Arab and Islamic countries, but received support from Israel.
The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas-led resistance groups conducted a massive retaliation operation against Israeli forces, has resulted in catastrophic civilian casualties. Despite its goal of releasing prisoners and dismantling Hamas, the Tel Aviv administration failed to achieve its goal. Instead, they were forced to sign a three-phase ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which began on January 19th. However, Israel later disrupted the ceasefire by refusing to proceed to the second phase of the contract.
Iran and Turkey warn about Israel’s exploitation in regional conflicts
On the sidelines of the OIC meeting, Araguchi also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two staff addressed the broader challenges facing the Muslim world, particularly Israel’s continued invasion in Gaza and the West Bank occupation.
Araghchi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Syria, where extremist groups such as Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) gained control. He warned that Syrian instability would serve Israel’s interests only and provide breeding grounds for terrorist organizations.
Fidan reflected these concerns, reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting Palestinian rights and emphasized the collective responsibility of Islamic countries to resist Israeli expansionism.
Iran strengthens regional partnerships on the Palestinian issue
In addition to Saudi Arabia and Turkish officials, Aragut held separate meetings with foreign ministers from Tunisia, Egypt and Oman to discuss regional development in Gaza and the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
In a meeting with Tunisian Foreign Minister Muhammed Ali Nafti, both sides defended Palestinian self-determination and emphasized their common stance in condemning Israel’s apartheid policies. They called for collective action among Islamic countries to prevent further evacuation of Palestinians and to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes.
Similarly, in discussions with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, both diplomats highlighted the strong ties between Tehran and Muscat. Busaidi reiterated Omani’s commitment to the Palestinian cause, highlighting the need for regional cooperation to support Palestinian sovereignty. Araghchi confirmed Iran’s willingness to expand its partnership with Oman in various sectors.
In consultation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti, Iranian diplomats rejected initiatives that included the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza, denounced them as an act of ethnic cleansing. Both ministers emphasized the need for continued solidarity within the Muslim world and the broader international community to support the Palestinians and help rebuild Gaza.