​​​​​​​The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened Saturday in Istanbul against the backdrop of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Held under the theme "The OIC in a Transforming World," the summit brings together more than 35 foreign ministers and five deputy ministers, with total attendance expected to reach around 1,000 delegates, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Addressing the opening session, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered a strongly worded rebuke of Israel’s recent military actions, stating that the region is facing a full-blown crisis fueled by Israeli aggression.

“There is an Israel problem in the region,” Fidan declared in a live broadcast of his remarks. “This is not a problem of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran; this is clearly a problem of Israel.”

He condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran, especially amid ongoing nuclear negotiations, and called for an immediate end to hostilities. “We strongly condemn Israel's attack on Iran while nuclear negotiations are ongoing,” he said, urging the international community to take swift and decisive action to prevent further escalation.

The summit’s agenda centers on regional security concerns, particularly the growing threat posed by Israeli military operations in neighboring countries. The presence of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has further highlighted the urgency of addressing these tensions through diplomatic channels.

The two-day session is expected to produce a unified OIC stance on the conflict and explore coordinated responses to the mounting instability in the region. (ILKHA)