Jeddah — Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, demanded that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) abandon symbolic gestures and embrace direct action to halt what he described as Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Speaking at an extraordinary ministerial session in Saudi Arabia, Araghchi declared that the time for words had ended and that Muslim nations must unite behind concrete measures.
Araghchi unveiled a four-point strategy, calling for the immediate severance of all diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with Israel, the imposition of wide-ranging political and economic sanctions, the prosecution of Israeli officials for war crimes in international courts, and coordinated resistance against states that provide weapons or diplomatic cover to Tel Aviv.
“Gaza is not just a place, but a symbol of resistance and human dignity,” Araghchi told delegates. “Today is the time for action, not promises. It is time for decisive action.” His remarks underscored Tehran’s growing frustration with years of OIC condemnations that have rarely translated into collective punishment for Israel.
The Iranian diplomat argued that the Gaza crisis was not only a Palestinian issue but a universal test of morality and justice. He said every government, Muslim or otherwise, had a responsibility to align with humanity against a regime that “has institutionalized oppression and occupation.”
The Jeddah meeting was convened under pressure from rising casualties and worsening famine conditions in Gaza, where international aid groups warn of systemic starvation. Iran has positioned itself as a central voice in demanding accountability, while also pushing for a broader Muslim consensus that bridges political divides across the Arab world.
In parallel diplomacy, Araghchi met with his Egyptian counterpart to press for Muslim unity in halting the bloodshed and in accelerating humanitarian relief. That conversation highlighted a rare alignment of priorities between Cairo and Tehran, two regional powers often at odds, but now finding common ground in the urgency of Gaza’s humanitarian collapse.
The Iranian foreign minister also signaled that the Islamic bloc should confront not only Israel but its Western protectors, particularly the United States, which continues to supply arms and shield Tel Aviv from accountability in international forums. By naming and challenging Israel’s backers directly, Tehran seeks to broaden the scope of responsibility and shame governments that sustain what it calls the machinery of genocide.
The OIC session, attended by foreign ministers from across the Muslim world, is unlikely to yield immediate enforcement of sanctions or collective severance of ties, but Araghchi’s proposals have amplified pressure on the bloc to deliver more than statements. Analysts say Iran’s intervention is designed to force OIC capitals into a stark choice: either stand with Palestine in deeds or risk complicity by inaction.
According to Mehr News, Araghchi’s four-point proposal was formally presented during the August 25 session in Jeddah, where he insisted that the international community has a moral duty to prosecute Israeli leaders for war crimes and to resist those governments that shield Tel Aviv from accountability.
