ISTANBUL – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Istanbul on Saturday to join urgent diplomatic talks hosted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as hostilities between Tehran and Tel Aviv spiral to dangerous new levels.

The weekend summit is expected to draw nearly 40 senior diplomats from across the Islamic world, WafricNews has learned, with discussions centering on the intensifying military and political standoff between Iran and Israel.

According to Iranian state media, Araghchi’s visit aims to push the issue of Israel’s recent attacks against Iran onto the forefront of the OIC agenda. “The Foreign Minister arrived in Istanbul this morning to participate in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ meeting,” Tasnim News Agency confirmed.

Just a day prior, Araghchi was in Geneva holding closed-door talks with his European counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany. The Geneva meeting, according to Iranian sources, was a precursor to broader diplomatic outreach and an attempt to build pressure on Israel.

“At this meeting, at the suggestion of Iran, the issue of the Zionist regime’s attack on our country will be specifically addressed,” Araghchi said.

The crisis erupted on June 13 when Israel launched a pre-dawn strike, citing Iran’s alleged progress toward developing nuclear weapons. Tehran responded with force, leading to what analysts describe as the most severe confrontation between the two longtime adversaries to date.

Despite the escalating rhetoric, Iran’s foreign minister hinted that diplomacy remains on the table—under strict conditions. “We are ready to consider diplomatic channels, but only after Israel halts its aggression,” Araghchi stated on Friday.

The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reports that the OIC foreign ministers are expected to issue a joint communiqué following their deliberations.

As tensions surge, regional leaders hope the Istanbul talks will offer at least a temporary de-escalation—though expectations for a breakthrough remain low.


By WafricNews Desk.