Foreign Ministers of Eight Nations Meet in Istanbul, Warn Washington Against Further Strikes on Iran

A meeting convened in Istanbul brought together foreign ministers of eight nations under a dual framework: the R4 mechanism comprising Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, alongside the E3 mechanism composed of Britain, Germany, and France, with Italy's participation. The agenda was dominated by several key files, most prominently the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the possibility of military strikes against Iran, attacks conducted by Houthis on Saudi Arabia, as well as pathways to ending existing conflicts.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the meeting as the seventh under the R4 framework, emphasizing that participants were given an opportunity to place regional problems, methods of resolving them, and measures taken so far on the table in meticulous detail. Fidan pointed out that the region's most prominent issues include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the possibility of military strikes against Iran, attacks conducted by Houthis on Saudi Arabia, and how to end these conflicts. He also noted that the file on Israel in the region and developments in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria also formed key axes of discussion.

Al Jazeera highlighted the meeting under the headline "A Call for Diplomacy Instead of Strikes," noting that the eight nations' foreign ministers urged the United States to avoid additional strikes against Iran. Al Jazeera also highlighted the Makkah Accord for Common Defense, launched by Ankara in August with the participation of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. French news agency RFI described the meeting as "unprecedented," pointing out that participating nations want to prioritize diplomacy and peaceful solutions in the region, and to the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting took place in a hotel in Istanbul at a time when Turkey is experiencing notable expansion in its regional diplomatic activities.