Eight Foreign Ministers Warn Against New Iran Strikes at Istanbul Summit

ISTANBUL — Foreign ministers from eight countries warned on Friday that any renewed attack on Iran would expand the regional war, declaring diplomacy and dialogue the only way out of the conflict after their first joint meeting in Istanbul.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who convened the gathering of the Regional Four — Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt — alongside Britain, France, Germany and Italy, said the group was unanimous. "We are all in agreement that a new attack on Iran would expand the war in the region," Fidan told a press conference. "A military intervention on Iran is not in any way a solution. Nobody approves this at the moment." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that renewed escalation between Iran and the United States would create "nothing but losers" and carry serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices, while Italy's Antonio Tajani pressed for de-escalation to guarantee freedom of navigation and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers also discussed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the war in Gaza and prospects for ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

The warning lands days after reports that the US and Israel have drawn up post-midterm strike plans against Iran's energy, nuclear and missile sites — and as President Trump said Friday that Washington could end the war quickly but questioned whether to seek a swift conclusion or let it gradually wind down.