World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Eight countries urge restraint and diplomacy over Iran
Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss regional conflicts.
The ministers urged the United States and Israel not to launch fresh attacks on Iran, warning that further fighting could spread across the region.
They said diplomacy was needed as talks over Iran’s nuclear programme remain deadlocked.
The discussions also covered the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted, and attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia.
Ministers warned that wider conflict could raise energy prices and threaten trade and security.
They also discussed Gaza, Yemen and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The eight countries plan to meet regularly to work on regional issues and freedom of navigation.
Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries urged the United States and Israel not to launch further attacks on Iran.
At a meeting in Istanbul on Friday, they warned that renewed fighting could spread conflict across the region.
The ministers called for restraint, diplomacy and dialogue, and discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz.
They also raised concerns about energy prices, fighting in Yemen, Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Who
- Foreign ministers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt.
- What
- They urged the United States and Israel not to launch further strikes on Iran and called for diplomacy.
- When
- Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Why
- They said renewed fighting could widen regional conflict and worsen the effects on energy prices and security.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia launched the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
Foreign ministers from eight countries met in Istanbul to discuss regional conflicts and urge restraint over Iran.
Hakan Fidan said participating countries did not approve of another military intervention or attack on Iran.
- Countries represented
- Eight: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt
- Meeting location
- Istanbul, Turkiye
- Meeting date
- October 23, 2026
- Defence agreement
- Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, launched in August by Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
- Key waterway discussed
- Strait of Hormuz
3 sources
What people are saying
Military intervention in Iran is not any kind of solution.
A further escalation between Iran and the US “would create nothing but losers and would undoubtedly have very serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices,
I do not believe the problem can be solved from a purely military standpoint,
We are united by the impact these deadlocked conflicts are having on the economy and security of our countries and by the will to seek new ways to bring about solutions.