In the Turkish city that has long stood at the seam between Europe and the Middle East, foreign ministers from eight nations gathered to speak with a single voice against a second war with Iran. Their message, addressed to Washington and Jerusalem, is that a fresh round of strikes would not end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme but would instead spread the conflict and deepen the hunger for energy that already presses on ordinary households. It is a rare moment in which middle powers and European capitals, often watching from the sidelines, have tried to claim a place at the table w
Eight nations' Istanbul summit warns US and Israel against renewed strikes on Iran
In the Turkish city that has long stood at the seam between Europe and the Middle East, foreign ministers from eight nations gathered to speak with a single voice against a second war with Iran. Their message, addressed to Washington and Jerusalem, is that a fresh round of strikes would not end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme but would instead spread the conflict and deepen the hunger for energy that already presses on ordinary households. It is a rare moment in which middle powers and European capitals, often watching from the sidelines, have tried to claim a place at the table where the region's fate is weighed.
In Istanbul, foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries sat down together and sent a joint warning to Washington and Jerusalem: do not resume attacks on Iran. They argued that another round of fighting would spread across the region and drive oil prices higher still. The meeting, convened by Turkey and Germany, was described as unprecedented, bringing regional and European leaders to one table in what amounts to a new multinational anti-war bloc.
It comes as the United States and Israel have grown increasingly open about plans to strike Iran again, even as talks over Tehran's nuclear programme remain stuck. Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said military intervention is no solution, and the ministers agreed that a new attack would only widen the war. The Middle Eastern voices included Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, while France, Britain, Germany and Italy represented Europe.
The ministers also demanded an end to Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, now blockaded by Iranian ships and drones. Germany's Johann Wadephul placed blame on the Houthis and Iran for strangling energy and fertiliser supplies, warning of effects at the petrol pump and the threat of famine, while offering no criticism of Washington. Italy's Antonio Tajani argued the crisis cannot be solved by force alone and that dialogue must make Tehran see its current stance is unsustainable.
For European ministers, the rare chance to shape Middle Eastern affairs carries weight after a long period on the sidelines. The open questions now are whether Washington and Jerusalem press ahead with their strike plans, and whether the strait of Hormuz reopens.
In Istanbul, foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries sat down together and delivered a joint warning to Washington and Jerusalem: do not resume attacks on Iran. A fresh round of fighting, they said, would spread the conflict across the region and push oil prices higher still.
The gathering was initiated by Turkey and Germany and described as unprecedented in bringing regional and European leaders to one table. It amounts to a new multinational "anti-war bloc," and it arrives as the US and Israel have become increasingly open about plans to relaunch strikes on Iran while talks over Tehran's nuclear programme remain deadlocked.
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister and joint convener, said military intervention in Iran is not any kind of solution. The ministers agreed, he said, that a new attack would spread the war, and that none of the countries at the table wanted to see that happen again.
The Middle Eastern side was represented by Fidan, Egypt's Badr Abdelatty, Pakistan's Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia's Faisal bin Farhan. Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia formed the Mecca defensive security pact in August, a grouping Egypt may join. The European delegation comprised Jean-Noël Barrot of France, Ed Miliband of the UK, Germany's Johann Wadephul and Italy's Antonio Tajani.
The ministers did not confine themselves to a warning for Washington. They also demanded an end to Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia and an immediate reopening of the strait of Hormuz, which is currently blockaded by Iranian ships and drones. Barrot said another war between Iran and the US would be bad for both sides and would only worsen rising oil prices, which have reached their highest level since May. Miliband urged both sides to embrace diplomacy.
Wadephul struck a different note on responsibility. He offered no criticism of the US, but accused the Houthis and Iran of blackmailing world trade and strangling global supplies of energy and fertiliser. The effects, he said, are felt at the petrol pump and in the supermarket, and elsewhere there is a threat of famine. He described the countries as united by the economic and security toll of deadlocked conflicts and by a will to find new ways toward solutions.
Tajani framed the aim as de-escalation to guarantee freedom of navigation. He said he did not believe the problem could be solved from a purely military standpoint, and that reopening Hormuz, vital to European economies, requires promoting dialogue and making Iran understand that its current stance cannot continue.
The agenda ran wider than Iran. It covered the Palestinian issue, including settlement expansion, settler violence and the two-state solution, along with Yemen, security in Hormuz, and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and prevent spillover into the Black Sea. For European ministers, the meeting was a rare chance to have any input into Middle Eastern crises. They have largely been bystanders, apart from sending air force protection to Saudi Arabia as it fends off Houthi drone and missile attacks on its airports and energy installations.
What to watch now is whether Washington and Jerusalem proceed with their strike plans while nuclear talks stay stalled, and whether the strait of Hormuz reopens.
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War & Conflict