ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan extended support for Iran on Saturday as conflict between Iran and Israel entered its ninth day. Speaking at Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul, Erdoğan expressed optimism that Iran will emerge victorious in the escalating confrontation.
Erdogan strongly denounced Israel’s aggression for disrupting ongoing nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting diplomatic solutions. He urged OIC member states to increase pressure on Israel, invoking international law and United Nations resolutions.
Turkish leader’s remarks come ahead of a NATO summit where he is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently dismissed European-led mediation efforts and emphasized direct talks with Iran.
Israel confirmed it targeted Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan during recent airstrikes and reported the killing of three senior commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated these operations have delayed Iran’s nuclear progress by several years.
At the OIC gathering, Erdoğan warned against the creation of a “new Sykes-Picot” division in the Middle East and called for increased solidarity among Muslim nations to counter Israeli actions destabilizing the region. He highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, describing them as worse than Nazi concentration camps and appealing for international support.
Erdoğan welcomed Syria’s return to the OIC and stressed the importance of protecting Syria’s territorial integrity and achieving lasting stability. He urged Islamic countries to unite not only against Israeli actions in Palestine but also in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran.
His forceful statements signal growing calls for Islamic cooperation in response to mounting regional conflicts and underline Turkey’s leadership role within the Muslim world.
He accused Netanyahu of pushing entire Middle East toward destruction. Speaking at a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Istanbul, Erdoğan urged Muslim nations to set aside their differences and unite to confront Israel’s ongoing aggression.
Erdoğan condemned Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and its recent military actions against Iran, describing Netanyahu’s government as the biggest obstacle to peace in the region. He drew parallels between Netanyahu and Hitler, warning that Israel’s actions threaten to destabilize the entire Middle East. The Turkish president called for diplomatic solutions, emphasizing that the region can no longer endure war and instability.
He also voiced strong support for Iran, declaring that the Turkish people stand with their Iranian brothers and sisters in the face of Israeli aggression. Erdoğan reaffirmed the call for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The two-day OIC meeting, hosted in Turkey, is focused on addressing Israeli attacks on Iran and Gaza. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar are among the key attendees. Araqchi highlighted Iran’s right to self-defense following Israeli strikes that occurred just days before planned nuclear negotiations.
Massive damage, fires near Microsoft office as Iran rains ballistic missiles on southern Israel
