Key facts
- A new multinational "anti-war bloc" has emerged, challenging US and Israeli plans for strikes on Iran.
Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries urged the US and Israel on Wednesday not to launch fresh strikes on Iran, warning that renewed conflict would destabilize the region and further increase oil prices. The group, convened by Turkey and Germany, also called for an end to Houthi attacks and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The formation of a new multinational bloc and its call for de-escalation in the Middle East could influence geopolitical tensions and impact global energy markets, particularly oil prices, due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul, urging the US and Israel against launching fresh strikes on Iran. The ministers warned that renewed conflict would spread across the region and further increase oil prices, which have hit their highest level since May. The meeting, initiated by Turkey and Germany, also addressed the Palestinian issue, security in the Strait of Hormuz, and the war in Yemen and Ukraine.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that military intervention in Iran is not a solution and that a new attack would spread the conflict. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that another war would be detrimental to both Iran and the US and would exacerbate rising oil prices. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also advocated for diplomacy. German minister Johann Wadephul accused the Houthis and Iran of blackmailing world trade and strangling global energy and fertilizer supplies, highlighting the impact on consumers and the threat of famine elsewhere. Italian minister Antonio Tajani emphasized the need for de-escalation and dialogue to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
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