Iran’s FM to attend Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meet in Turkey on Saturday, source says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Saturday, a Turkish foreign ministry source says, as fighting rages between Israel and Iran.

The source says a special session of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on Israel’s recent strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, including today’s attack on the Khondab nuclear site in Arak.

The Israeli military said it targeted a partially built heavy-water reactor at the site, which experts say could produce weapons-grade plutonium.

Turkey has sharply criticized Israel, called its actions illegal and said Iran was legitimately defending itself.

Opening the two-day summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to call on Muslim countries to unite in the face of “destabilizing actions” across the region, the ministry source says. President Tayyip Erdogan will also address the conference.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which includes 57 member states, has long served as a political and diplomatic forum for Muslim countries.

Israel says its assault is targeting Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile program in an act of self-defense.

Iran has retaliated by launching over 400 missiles and around 1,000 drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and over 500 wounded.