European and Middle Eastern ministers warn against new strikes on Iran
Eight European and Middle Eastern states met in Istanbul and urged the US and Israel not to renew attacks on Iran, warning of wider war and higher oil prices.

The story in focus
Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul, convened by Turkey and Germany, and warned the US and Israel against renewing strikes on Iran. The Guardian reported that ministers said fresh fighting would spread regional conflict and raise oil prices.
- Foreign ministers from eight countries met in Istanbul at a summit convened by Turkey and Germany
- Ministers urged the US and Israel not to renew attacks on Iran, warning of wider conflict
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said military intervention in Iran is not a solution
- The summit demanded an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
- French minister Jean-Noël Barrot said another Iran-US war would worsen rising oil prices
Istanbul summit urges diplomacy with Iran
The Guardian reported that foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries used a summit in Istanbul to call on the US and Israel not to renew strikes on Iran. The gathering was convened by Turkey and Germany.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a joint convener, said military intervention in Iran would not resolve the crisis and that participants agreed a new attack would spread conflict across the region. French, UK, German and Italian ministers also pressed for diplomacy. German minister Johann Wadephul said the countries were united by the economic and security impact of the deadlocked conflicts.
Shipping, Yemen and economic concerns
The summit demanded an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which The Guardian described as blockaded by Iranian ships and drones. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said another Iran-US war would hurt both sides and worsen oil prices, which the report said had reached their highest level since May.
The agenda also covered the Palestinian issue, including settlement expansion and the two-state solution, security in the Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and prevent spillover into the Black Sea. The Middle Eastern participants were Fidan, Egypt's Badr Abdelatty, Pakistan's Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia's Faisal bin Farhan. The European side included Barrot, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Wadephul and Italy's Antonio Tajani.
Which countries took part in the Istanbul summit on Iran?
The Guardian named Middle Eastern ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and European ministers from France, the UK, Germany and Italy at the summit convened by Turkey and Germany.
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