51st OIC session in Istanbul: Iran's foreign minister Araqchi arrives; says Tehran's legitimate defence must be heard

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Istanbul on Saturday morning to participate in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iran's Tasnim news agency reported. Speaking to the reporters, Araqchi said that Tehran would use the "opportunity to let the voice of righteousness of the Iranian people’s legitimate defense be heard.”

Araqchi said the OIC had approved Iran’s proposal to hold the meeting to discuss what he described as the Israeli regime’s war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.


“We hope that a good and strong statement would be issued in condemnation of this (Israeli) aggression,” he said.

Araqchi is also scheduled to meet with OIC foreign ministers, the secretary general of the OIC, and the President of Turkey on the sidelines of the event.

“We will use this opportunity to let the voice of righteousness of the Iranian people’s legitimate defense be heard,” he stated.


The meeting follows Araqchi’s talks with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany in Geneva on Friday.

"At this meeting, at the suggestion of Iran, the issue of the Zionist regime's attack on our country will be specifically addressed," Araqchi said, according to the news agency.

On Friday, Araqchi also said Tehran was ready to "consider diplomacy" again, but only if Israel's "aggression is stopped."

The Istanbul meeting is being hosted by Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan and will be held under the theme "The Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a Transforming World." Around 40 diplomats are expected to attend the session as Israel and Iran continue to exchange missile strikes.