ANKARA – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to attend a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Saturday, as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran continues to draw international concern, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source confirmed on Thursday.
The meeting, part of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, is expected to focus on Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran, including a significant attack on Thursday targeting the Khondab nuclear site in Arak. The Israeli military claimed it struck a partially built heavy-water reactor, which international experts believe could be capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium.
Turkey has sharply condemned Israel’s actions, calling them illegal, and defended Iran’s response as legitimate self-defense. The Turkish government has urged restraint while advocating solidarity among Muslim nations.
The two-day summit will open with remarks from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is expected to call on member states to unite against “destabilising actions” in the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also deliver an address to the gathering.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, comprising 57 member states, functions as a collective political and diplomatic platform for the Muslim world. The emergency session underscores the growing urgency of the Israel-Iran conflict and its implications for regional and global stability.