Skip to main content

OIC conference begins with Iran-Saudi spat

Iran’s foreign minister has condemned Saudi Arabia's attempts to introduce anti-Iranian resolutions ahead of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Istanbul.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Istanbul Summit in Istanbul, Turkey April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Pool - RTX29X09

At the 13th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, leaders of Muslim countries gathered to address issues such as terrorism, the migration crisis in the region and the issue of Palestine. What has captured the attention of the Iranian media, however, is the continuing conflict between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Before the April 14 summit began, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif publicly objected to Saudi Arabia’s attempt to introduce what Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) called “four anti-Iranian resolutions and one resolution against Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the draft declaration of the OIC.” Zarif said such a statement would contradict the “spirit of Islamic unity and is in the interests of the Zionist regime" and warned that such destructive actions would have consequences.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.