Muslim-majority states in the Middle East and beyond have jointly condemned Israel’s military strikes against Iran as the conflict has escalated and urged Israel to refrain from targeting nuclear facilities.
Newsweek contacted the Israeli prime minister’s office for comment.
Why It Matters
In a rare display of regional consensus, 22 Muslim-majority nations—including those that have diplomatic relation with Israel and are at odds with Iran—have warned that continued escalation threatens to ignite a broader regional conflict and destabilize the Middle East, calling for a return to negotiations the only solution regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The conflict has disrupted nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.
What To Know
The Muslim majority countries expressed “categorical rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recent attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 13th of June 2025,” adding concerns about the “unprecedented escalation of tensions in the Middle East, particularly owing to the ongoing military aggression of Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
A statement published by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry included the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, as well some African countries, Turkey, Indonesia and others. The conflict has disrupted air traffic over some of those countries, many of which are also U.S. allies.
Israel has expanded a military offensive striking Iran’s nuclear and missile sites as well as targeting military personnel and nuclear scientists, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a preemptive attack to prevent Iran from weaponizing its nuclear capacities.
Iran, previously saying its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes, has hit back with waves of missile attacks on Israel.
The signatories of the statement called on all countries of the Middle East to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Israel, which has not signed the treaty, is believed to possess nuclear arms.
President Donald Trump doubled down on a need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, issuing a warning on Monday evening telling “everyone” in Tehran to “immediately evacuate” the city.
What People Are Saying
The joint statement called for: “The imperative need to halt Israeli hostilities against Iran, which come during a time of increasing tension in the Middle East, and to work towards de-escalation, to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and restoration of calm, while expressing great concern regarding this dangerous escalation, which threatens to have serious consequences on the peace and stability of the entire region.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Four of our citizens were killed in Tamra. I’ve heard cheers of rejoicing and I reject that vehemently. The missile makes no distinction. It harms Jews as well as Arabs. They’re coming to destroy all of us, and we stand in this battle together”.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life.”
What Happens Next
Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation are continuing despite calls for de-escalation. The United States is bolstering military capacities and presence in the Middle East as it may be intervening or dragged into the conflict.
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