Arab FMs condemn Israeli aggression, urge Iran-Israel de-escalation

Egypt Independent

5 hours ago

Arab foreign ministers have condemned Israel's aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling it a 'blatant violation' of the sovereignty of a UN member state and a threat to regional peace and security.
In a statement issued following an extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the Ministerial Level— held on Friday 20/6/2025 at Iraq's request and chaired by Jordan—the ministers called for an immediate end to the hostilities and urged intensified regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a comprehensive ceasefire.
The session took place on the sidelines of the 51st meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The Arab League called for a return to negotiations over Iran's nuclear file and expressed support for all initiatives aimed at achieving calm in the region.
The ministers urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities in halting Israeli military actions, which they said violate international law and endanger regional stability.
They emphasized that diplomacy and dialogue—based on international law and the UN Charter—are the only paths to resolving regional crises, stressing that military solutions are not viable.
The statement asserted that a comprehensive regional de-escalation requires addressing the root causes of conflict, beginning with an immediate halt to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the unrestricted and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid via UN agencies, and an end to illegal Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, which they said undermine the two-state solution and prospects for a just and lasting peace.
The ministers warned that Israeli policies were pushing the region further toward conflict and instability, urging effective international action to stop such measures and revive efforts for a comprehensive peace that guarantees the security of all parties—based on relevant UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
In this context, they welcomed the convening of a high-level international conference on a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution. They urged all UN member states to actively participate in this conference, set to be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France at the UN General Assembly in New York, once a new date for its convocation is announced.
They also welcomed Egypt's offer to host a high-level international conference to support early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, aligned with the Islamic-Arab plan, at the earliest opportunity following a ceasefire.
The ministers reaffirmed the need to respect freedom of navigation in international waterways, in accordance with international law, to prevent impacts on the global economy and energy supply chains.
They stressed the necessity of adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of the use of force in international relations. They called for the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, rejecting any attempt to undermine their stability.
The statement also condemned any violations of the airspace of states in the region and underlined the need to avoid targeting nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Such actions, they said, violate international law and pose grave risks of nuclear contamination and environmental and humanitarian disaster.
Finally, the ministers reiterated the call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, in line with international resolutions and decisions by past Arab League summits, including the 34th summit held in Baghdad in May 2025. They urged all regional countries to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)