During a recent summit in Istanbul, foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern nations urged the United States and Israel to refrain from launching new military strikes on Iran. The officials warned that further military action could exacerbate regional tensions, potentially leading to a wider conflict and rising global oil prices.
The meeting, co-hosted by Türkiye, focused on diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that military intervention would not be a solution and cautioned that additional strikes could spread conflict across the region.
Representatives from Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy participated in the discussions. Both France and the United Kingdom underscored the necessity of dialogue, pointing out the economic dangers of escalating warfare. The ministers also addressed security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global energy supplies, and the impact of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling for measures to ensure freedom of navigation and prevent disruptions to international trade.
Beyond the focus on Iran, the summit also delved into other pressing issues, such as the Palestinian situation, settlement expansion, the two-state solution, and efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The participating countries expressed the need for enhanced diplomatic cooperation to mitigate regional tensions, safeguard economic interests, and prevent the escalation of conflicts.