Istanbul hosted an emergency session of Arab foreign ministers on Friday, just ahead of the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, set to begin June 21. The urgent gathering was convened in response to escalating tensions in the region, particularly following Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began June 13. In a joint statement, the ministers described the attacks as a “blatant violation of the sovereignty of a UN member state” and warned that continued aggression could severely threaten regional peace and stability.
The final communiqué urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene swiftly, warning that inaction could further destabilize West Asia. Ministers also linked the latest escalation to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and its actions in the occupied West Bank, calling for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and a halt to what they described as Israeli violations. They cautioned that these developments risk triggering a broader regional war if left unchecked.
In a broader appeal, the ministers backed renewed diplomatic engagement on Iran’s nuclear program and called for all regional nations to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). They condemned any violations of airspace and reaffirmed support for the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution. The meeting underscored a unified Arab position favoring diplomacy and multilateral solutions amid rising fears of an expanding regional conflict.