ISTANBUL (Turkiye): In a momentous diplomatic turn, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to formally launch a coordinated campaign at the United Nations to bring Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal under international inspection.
Meeting behind closed doors in Istanbul on the sidelines of its 51st Council of Foreign Ministers, the 57-member bloc agreed to push Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and subject its nuclear programme to full scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The rare show of unity—initiated at the request of Iran—signals a tectonic shift in how the Muslim world seeks to address Israel’s long-standing policy of nuclear opacity.
According to sources present in the room, the consensus among member states was clear: the time has come to challenge what they labelled “Israel’s nuclear exceptionalism” and the impunity it enjoys.
Israel remains one of the few nuclear-armed countries outside the NPT framework.
Though it has never officially acknowledged its arsenal, international assessments suggest it possesses anywhere between 90 and 400 nuclear warheads. Experts believe it maintains a full nuclear triad: capable of launching nuclear strikes from land via Jericho ballistic missiles, air through its F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, and sea using submarine-launched cruise missiles from its German-built Dolphin-class submarines.
The Istanbul summit, hosted by Türkiye under the theme “The OIC in a Transforming World,” has not only aimed at reviving the spirit of Muslim solidarity but also unveiled a clear roadmap to pursue global nuclear justice, starting with Israel.
Erdoğan’s fiery rebuke
In a searing opening address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spared no words in denouncing Israel’s escalating regional aggression, calling it “state terror” and likening its actions to historical atrocities.
“We will not permit a new Sykes-Picot to redraw the region’s borders with blood,” Erdoğan declared, warning of a dangerous reconfiguration of the Middle East led by Tel Aviv and condoned by complicit Western powers.
He described Israel’s military conduct, from Gaza to Iran, as a “project of destabilisation,” accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately igniting a regional warfront. “What Hitler did 90 years ago is being repeated under Netanyahu’s Zionist ambitions. If left unchecked, this could lead to a global catastrophe,” he warned.
Erdoğan’s speech reflected both urgency and moral outrage as he condemned Israel’s June 13 strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites—attacks that prompted swift retaliation from Tehran. Iran’s Health Ministry confirmed 430 deaths and over 3,500 injuries, while Israel has reported at least 25 casualties.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined his president in challenging the global silence on Israel’s nuclear capabilities. “This is not just about Palestine or Iran. This is a global security crisis triggered by one state—Israel,” Fidan said.
The OIC initiative is aimed at shattering the asymmetry in how nuclear issues are handled globally. While countries like Iran—despite being NPT signatories—face relentless pressure, Israel has evaded scrutiny for decades, enjoying diplomatic cover, particularly from Western nations.
“Israel, which refuses inspections and flouts every international norm, has no legitimacy to lecture others,” Erdoğan said. He decried what he termed “Western hypocrisy” for enabling Israel’s belligerence while obstructing regional peace efforts.
Rising Tensions, Expanding War Zones
Erdoğan pointed out that Israel’s current military campaign extends beyond Gaza and the West Bank. “They are bombing Lebanon, Syria, Yemen—and now Iran. This is not about defence; this is expansionism,” he stated.
He also warned against the growing provocations around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threats to Jerusalem’s historic status. “Al-Quds is our first qibla. We will not sit silently while its sanctity is desecrated,” he said, urging all Muslim nations to stand united against what he called “an orchestrated attempt to alter the identity of the Holy City.”
The Turkish president used the platform to call for both regional and internal unity. “The fate of Istanbul, Tehran, Damascus, Makkah, and Jerusalem is intertwined. We are the children of one Ummah,” he said, quoting Prophet Muhammad’s advice to act collectively: “Two is better than one, three is better than two.”
Erdoğan lamented the continued division among Palestinian factions, calling it a strategic setback. “How can we defend Palestine effectively when our own house remains divided?” he asked.
Reaching beyond the Middle East, Erdoğan stressed the importance of Muslim minorities worldwide, describing them as “living bridges” between the OIC and global communities. He also warned against Israeli attempts to paralyse the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and pledged increased support, including the establishment of a dedicated representative office in Ankara.
Strategic Vision for a New Era
With Türkiye assuming the OIC’s rotating presidency, Erdoğan outlined an ambitious vision: amplify the Muslim world’s voice, stand against oppression, and build a fairer international order.
“We are on the cusp of a new global order where Islamic nations can no longer afford passivity. We must evolve from a reactive bloc into a proactive force,” Erdoğan asserted.
He welcomed Syria’s full return to the OIC, hailing it as a “victory born of sacrifice” and called for a collective effort to preserve its sovereignty. This inclusive approach, he suggested, is essential if the OIC is to serve as a meaningful counterweight in a world marked by polarisation.
Despite war clouds and diplomatic gridlocks, the summit in Istanbul marked a turning point. For the first time in decades, the Islamic world appears poised to confront Israel’s nuclear status head-on at the United Nations and rally wider support for disarmament and accountability.
“The believers are but brothers,” Erdoğan reminded his audience, quoting the Qur’an. “So reconcile between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
As the Istanbul declaration begins to take shape in global forums, the coming weeks will test whether this unity of purpose can be transformed into a sustained diplomatic movement—or whether it will, like so many past resolutions, remain a symbolic gesture in the face of geopolitical inertia.
Day 1: Outcomes of OIC Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul
Broader Strategic and Diplomatic Directions
1. Unified Nuclear Initiative Against Israel
The OIC resolved to launch a coordinated diplomatic campaign at the UN to bring Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections.
The initiative calls for compelling Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and end its policy of nuclear ambiguity.
The decision, taken during a closed-door meeting initiated by Iran, reflects a rare consensus and a bold shift in OIC strategy, targeting “Israel’s nuclear exceptionalism.”
2. Türkiye's OIC Presidency Prioritises Muslim Minorities
Upon assuming the OIC chair, Türkiye announced a global advocacy agenda focused on the rights, dignity, and recognition of Muslim minorities and diaspora communities facing marginalisation or discrimination.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged solidarity with oppressed Muslim populations and committed to keeping their issues at the forefront.
3. Vocal Support for Marginalised Muslim Communities
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reinforced Erdoğan’s message, vowing to use Türkiye’s term to amplify the voices of marginalised Muslim groups and work towards global justice.
4. Organisational Reforms within the OIC
President Erdoğan called for greater efficiency and reform within the OIC, referring to it as the second-largest multilateral body after the UN.
He outlined plans to transform the organisation into an engine for economic, social, and political development in the Muslim world.
5. Vision for a Multipolar World Order
Erdoğan stressed the need for the OIC to act as a central pillar in a multipolar world, capable of generating solutions to global challenges like conflict, poverty, inequality, and climate change.
6. Combatting Islamophobia as a Core Priority
The OIC pledged to intensify efforts to fight Islamophobia worldwide, calling for unity in defending Muslim dignity and challenging anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence.
7. Strengthening Ties with Global Peace Initiatives
The OIC announced its intent to collaborate with the UN Alliance of Civilizations, inviting its High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos to the conference.
Turkish Presidential Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç was appointed to coordinate OIC’s alignment with global dialogue and peace frameworks.
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