June 18—Twenty-one Islamic countries have signed a statement condemning Israel’s attack on Iran. In a joint statement issued June 16, the Foreign Ministries rejected what they described as violations of international law and Israeli actions that threaten regional security, reported the Egyptian daily Al Ahram. The statement calls for the respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and for the peaceful resolution of disputes. It warned that the Israel-Iran conflict risked spiraling further and called for an immediate ceasefire and return to calm. It also voiced concern over the broader regional fallout of the escalation.

The statement also called for renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, describing diplomacy as the only viable path to a lasting agreement. The statement concluded that dialogue and adherence to international law—not military action—were essential to resolving the crisis. Iran had issued an urgent appeal to halt the war, and restart negotiations with the United States, that President Donald Trump has yet to formally respond to. Despite Trump's threatening bluster and hinting that the U.S. might join the war, sources close to the White House report that his emissaries are exploring restarting negotiations.

Signatories include Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Gambia, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Türkiye, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to Iran’s Mehr News, the statement was initiated by Egypt, following consultations between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his counterparts in the other 20 countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the statement when he spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty today, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. “The unprecedented escalation in the Middle East” was the main topic of discussion, with both ministers expressing their “profound concern regarding Israel’s use of force against Iran, which constitutes a violation of the UN Charter and international law.” Abdelatty “highly commended Russia’s readiness to offer the necessary mediation for a political and diplomatic resolution to the crisis,” it added.