Istambul: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel attacked Iran to sabotage the US-Iran nuclear talks. While speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, Erdogan said that Israel is not interested in resolving the conflict diplomatically.
Erdogan urged countries that have influence over Israel to not listen to the Zionist state's poisonous words and try to resolve the conflict with Iran through negotiations. He asserted that everyone must try to prevent the conflict from escalating further. He said that Muslim countries must impose strict punitive measures on Israel, and these measures should be in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Israel is leading the Middle East to total disaster. According to him, conflicts in the region are not caused by Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, or Yemen. He demanded Israel stop its attacks on Iran as soon as possible.
As the Iran-Israel conflict enters its ninth day, both countries are reportedly intensifying their attacks. Israel said that in the latest attack, 15 warplanes were used in Iran, and more than 30 weapons were used. It is reported that about 660 people, including civilians, were killed in Israel's attack on Iran.
Iran reiterated that it would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat and warned that no diplomacy with the United States would be possible until Israel ceases its aggression and is held accountable for the crimes committed. Israel claimed to have hit Iranian nuclear facilities, which it believes could halt potential nuclear development for at least two to three years. Iran expressed deep dissatisfaction with the failure of European powers to condemn Israel’s actions outright, and although Tehran is prepared to engage with the European Union, it remains resolute that its missile capabilities are not up for negotiation, thereby rebuffing suggestions made earlier by French President Emmanuel Macron.