RIYADH, March 19: Foreign ministers from several Arab and Islamic countries on Thursday urged Iran to immediately stop its attacks on regional states, following a consultative ministerial meeting held in Riyadh.The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia, brought together top diplomats from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates to discuss ways to enhance regional security and stability.In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the ministers strongly condemned what they termed as deliberate Iranian attacks using ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilian areas and key infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential complexes and diplomatic missions.
The statement emphasized that such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances and reaffirmed the right of countries to defend themselves in line with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.The ministers called on Iran to immediately cease its attacks, adhere to international law and uphold principles of good neighborliness as a step toward de-escalation and restoring regional stability.They further warned that future relations with Iran would depend on respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and avoidance of threats against neighboring states.
The statement also urged Iran to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), halt all hostile actions, and avoid any steps that could endanger international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.The ministers reiterated their support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability, backing the government’s stance that weapons should remain exclusively under state control. They also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and criticized what they described as expansionist policies in the region.Participants agreed to continue coordination and consultations to address evolving developments and take necessary measures to safeguard their countries’ security and sovereignty.
Regional tensions have escalated since joint military actions by United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, which reportedly resulted in around 1,300 casualties, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.In response, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and several Gulf states hosting US military installations.
