ISTANBUL — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Turkey for a high-stakes diplomatic meeting, as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convenes its 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Istanbul on June 21–22. Hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan under the theme “The OIC in a Changing World,” the summit comes amid growing regional instability, particularly the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Foreign ministers from over 40 countries are expected to attend the two-day session, making it one of the most well-attended gatherings in the history of the OIC. In total, more than 1,000 participants are expected, including delegates from 57 member states, observer nations, affiliated institutions, and international organizations.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is also anticipated to address the summit, underscoring Turkey’s heightened diplomatic engagement as regional crises escalate. Sources within the Turkish Foreign Ministry suggest that Israel’s continued attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and most recently Iran will be at the forefront of the agenda.
Special Session on Israel-Iran Tensions
A special session is scheduled to address Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian territory, reflecting a growing concern among Muslim-majority countries over the potential for further regional destabilization. The summit is expected to produce the “Istanbul Declaration,” reaffirming collective positions on key geopolitical challenges, with a strong emphasis on the Palestinian cause.
Minister Fidan, who will take over the chairmanship of the CFM from his Cameroonian counterpart Lejeune Mbella Mbella, is expected to call for unified action among OIC members in response to Israeli aggression. He is also anticipated to emphasize Turkey’s commitment to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reiterate that the Palestinian issue remains the OIC’s top priority.
Broader Geopolitical Discussions
Beyond the Israel-Iran conflict, the summit will also host OIC Contact Group meetings on Jammu and Kashmir and the Rohingya crisis, as well as discussions on rebuilding war-torn Gaza’s infrastructure and strengthening cooperation among Muslim countries on humanitarian issues.
Turkey’s chairmanship is expected to spotlight several regional matters, including the political and economic reconstruction of Syria, recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as an observer state, and advocacy for the rights of Turkish Muslim minorities in Western Thrace and Greece’s Aegean islands.
Minister Fidan is also expected to address the rising trend of Islamophobia globally, calling for unified international action to combat religious discrimination and intolerance faced by Muslim communities worldwide.
About the OIC
Founded in 1969 in response to the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is the second-largest intergovernmental body after the United Nations. Headquartered in Jeddah, the OIC currently has 57 member states and serves as the collective voice of the Muslim world.
