Multinational ‘anti-war bloc’ uses Istanbul summit to call for a diplomatic solution to Middle East crisis.
Foreign ministers at a summit of eight European and Middle Eastern countries have urged the US and Israel not to renew their attacks on Iran, warning that a fresh outbreak of fighting would spread conflict and push oil prices even higher.
Diplomatic Efforts
The development of a new multinational “anti-war bloc” represents a challenge to the increasingly open plans by the US and Israel to relaunch strikes on Iran while talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme remain deadlocked. The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, joint convener of the summit in Istanbul, stated:
““Military intervention in Iran is not any kind of solution. We agreed that a new military attack would spread the war and the conflict in the region. All the countries around the table do not want the war to spread even more, once again.”
Ministers also demanded an end to the Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia, and an immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, currently blockaded by Iranian ships and drones.
Concerns Over Oil Prices
Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, emphasized that another war between Iran and the US would be detrimental for both sides and would only worsen rising oil prices, which have hit their highest level since May. Ed Miliband, the UK foreign secretary, also urged both sides to embrace diplomacy.
