The 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) was hosted in Istanbul, Türkiye, on June 21–22, 2025, in the face of escalating tensions in the Middle East driven by Israel’s ongoing military operations against Iran and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the summit, which drew unprecedented participation, with over 40 foreign ministers, including Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, and approximately 1,000 delegates from 57 member states, observer nations, and international organizations.

The summit, themed “The OIC in a Transforming World,” discussed Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran, the Palestinian cause, and the need for Muslim solidarity to counter regional instability.

The OIC summit opened with a powerful call for unity, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a keynote address condemning Israel’s actions as a “grave threat to regional and global peace.”

Erdoğan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of being “the biggest obstacle to regional peace” and described the Israeli campaign as a “renewed imperialist conspiracy” to redraw West Asia through bloodshed.

He emphasized Iran’s strength and resilience, stating, “I have no doubt that with thousands of years of solidarity, Iran will overcome these challenging days,” and called for Syria’s return into the OIC to bolster regional solidarity.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed Erdoğan’s sentiments, declaring, “The real problem is Israel,” and warning that its “unlawful” attacks on Iran could lead to a “total disaster” in the region.

Fidan urged Muslim nations to unite against Israel’s “destabilizing actions,” specifically its missile attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, like the Khondab heavy-water reactor near Arak on June 19.

He also reiterated Türkiye’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause, describing it as the OIC’s raison d’être, and advocated for the rights of Turkish Cypriots and Muslim minorities in Western Thrace and Greece’s Dodecanese Islands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, attending the summit to address Israel’s aggression, described the strikes on Iran as an “unforgivable crime” and a breach of international law.

He stressed Iran’s “legitimate right to self-defense” and called for a collective OIC response to Israel’s “growinglawlessness.”

Araghchi held sideline talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, signaling diplomatic efforts to coordinate a regional stance.