Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia urge diplomacy in Iran conflict

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia called for the military conflict between the U.S./Israel and Iran, as well as around the Strait of Hormuz, to be addressed “only through dialogue and diplomacy,” according to a joint statement issued after their meeting in İstanbul on Oct. 23, 2026.

The ministers, who met as the R4 group, also stressed the need to prevent the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including vessels, expressed support for the Islamabad MoU and welcomed continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, according to the statement published by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

They rejected any measures or restrictions that impair lawful navigation and called for “the swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” Disruption of sea lanes threatens the security and prosperity of all by blocking global supply chains and flows of energy, fertilizer and food, the statement said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the R4 meeting and a meeting that also included the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Britain, and held separate talks with the ministers of Pakistan, Britain, France, Italy and Germany, the ministry said. A joint press release from the wider meeting listed the U.S./Israel-Iran conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Houthi militia attacks against Saudi Arabia and the government of Yemen, and escalated tension in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb and the Black Sea among the issues discussed.

In their own statement, the R4 ministers also called for the early implementation of the two-state solution and condemned “in the strongest terms” the unacceptable escalation by the Houthi militia.