The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened in Istanbul on Saturday amid an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Held under the theme "The OIC in a Transforming World," the summit's agenda prominently features discussions on the recent Israeli strikes on Iran and the broader security challenges these developments pose for the region.

During his opening remarks in a live broadcast, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there is "an Israel problem in the region."

"This is not a problem of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran; this is clearly a problem of Israel," he said, adding that "Israel is now attacking our neighbor Iran, pushing the region to the brink of full-scale disaster."

Fidan urged Israel to immediately cease its attacks and called on the international community to act decisively to prevent the conflict from escalating.

"We strongly condemn Israel's attack on Iran while nuclear negotiations are ongoing," he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned Israel's recent attack on Iran and its broader military actions in the region, describing them as acts of "thuggery."

"The definition and description of Israel's attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and most recently Iran, is thuggery," Erdogan said during his opening address at the session.

He said that the timing of the Israeli strike on Iran – coinciding with intensified nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States – was particularly "meaningful."

The Turkish president called on the Islamic world to set aside internal differences and unite around shared interests. "We must continue our initiatives to implement compelling measures against Israel based on international law and the UN Charter."

The two-day meeting has drawn over 35 foreign ministers, among them Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and five deputy ministers. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, total attendance is expected to reach approximately 1,000 delegates.

(With input from Xinhua)