TEHRAN – Iran’s Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Ghani has left Tehran for Istanbul to attend an emergency meeting of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation.
The emergency session will focus on Israel’s escalating military operations in Gaza.
In a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Bangeri Ghani will not only participate in the meeting to be held on Saturday, but will also deliver a keynote speech. The meeting is seen as a key moment to strengthen Iran’s aggressive diplomacy towards the Palestinian cause and the ongoing resistance against the Zionist regime.
Baghersi Ghani is expected to engage in high-level discussions with other foreign ministers during the Istanbul meeting. The agenda includes creating coordinated action among Islamic countries to prevent Israeli occupations and ensuring the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to Palestinians living under siege. This is consistent with Iran’s broader strategy of uniting Islamic nations in response to Israeli atrocities.
The list of notable participants underscores the international importance of the meeting. Apart from Bagheri Gani, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohammad Hassan and Bangladesh’s Social Welfare Minister Dibu Moni will be present in this assembly. Senior officials from Egypt and Nigeria are also expected to attend, highlighting the broad geographic representation within the D-8.
The main outcome of the meeting is expected to be the adoption of a strong joint declaration condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The response comes in light of alarming statistics that Israeli attacks have killed at least 36,654 Palestinians in the past eight months, most of them women and children.
The extraordinary meeting in Istanbul holds significant significance for the D-8 member states as they strive to present a united front against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Under the leadership of Turkey, the session aims to demonstrate unwavering solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause, especially in the face of relentless Israeli attacks since October 7 last year.
The D-8 organization comprising Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan was established on June 15, 1997. It was created following a proposal by Turkey’s then Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. An economic grouping of eight emerging economies from the Muslim world. Since its inception, the D-8 has sought to promote economic cooperation among its members while addressing pressing political and humanitarian issues affecting the global Muslim community.
As the Istanbul meeting unfolds, the international community will be watching closely how the D-8 countries navigate this complex and urgent crisis. The outcome of this meeting could have a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape and humanitarian situation in Gaza, making it a critical moment for diplomacy and joint action.