Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters that participants agreed any renewed attack on Iran would further escalate the regional conflict.
The warning followed closed-door talks hosted by Türkiye, bringing together foreign ministers from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Britain and Italy. Discussions centred on Iran, Yemen, maritime security and the war in Ukraine.
Fidan also stressed that military intervention was not a viable solution, adding that none of the countries represented at the talks supported such action.
The talks marked the first joint meeting between the so-called “R4” group - Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia - and the four European countries.
Participants also explored ways to contain the regional conflict, although no specific proposals or new diplomatic initiatives were announced.
The meeting came amid speculation that the U.S. and Israel could launch fresh attacks on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections on 3 November.
Media reports suggest potential targets could include Iran’s energy and nuclear facilities, as well as its missile and drone arsenals. However, neither Washington nor Israel has announced a final decision.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would not resume strikes before the elections, citing what he described as “productive” contacts with Tehran.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, no ceasefire has been reached, while nuclear negotiations remain stalled.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran “would leave no winners” and could have serious consequences for global energy prices.
The conflict has already severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driven up energy costs and raised fears of further attacks on Gulf infrastructure.
Brent crude rose above $117 a barrel on Friday as concerns mounted over the possibility of renewed fighting.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, France and Britain were ready to hold talks with Iran aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Wadephul also urged negotiations with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Ansar Allah group, known as the Houthis, following attacks threatening Saudi territory and shipping near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and e...
Afghan and Russian businesses signed 15 trade agreements worth $103 million in Kabul on Thursday during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Al...
Rising demand for air cargo and expanding international aviation networks are opening up new trade opportunities for Central Asia and the South Cau...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Iran will not let a single particle of its enriched nuclear material leave the country, and any new U.S. attack would be met with strikes on distant American bases, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Afghan and Russian businesses signed 15 trade agreements worth $103 million in Kabul on Thursday during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Afghanistan’s government said.
Rising demand for air cargo and expanding international aviation networks are opening up new trade opportunities for Central Asia and the South Caucasus, as countries invest in airports and strengthen their roles in global supply chains.
Kazakhstan’s security service has arrested Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Samruk-Kazyna, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, on suspicion of corruption. Yelzhas Otynshiyev, Chairman of KTZ, Kazakhstan’s national railway firm has also been detained.
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has killed at least six people, including a surgeon, and wounded 20 others, according to Gaza’s civil defence service.
The competitiveness of international trade depends on how efficiently goods move across borders. These issues are in focus at the 22nd International Exhibition of Transport and Logistics – TransLogistica Uzbekistan 2026, taking place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10 to 12 November.
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