New Delhi: Amid the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, 21 Arab, Islamic and African nations have called for the urgent creation of a “Middle East Zone free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction”. Their foreign ministers Tuesday urged all States in the region to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), describing it as a critical step toward long-term stability and peace.
The statement, the result of an initiative by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty following consultations with his counterparts across the region, highlighted growing alarm over what the ministers described as a “dangerous escalation of Israeli military action against Iran”.
The signatories include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Comoros, Gambia, Chad and Brunei.
The ministers demanded an immediate halt to “Israeli hostilities” and emphasised the need for de-escalation and a comprehensive ceasefire.
The foreign ministers’ statement emphasised “the urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, which shall apply to all States in the region without exception, in line with relevant international resolutions.”
Joint Statement
🔗⬇️https://t.co/5tOnXObHo4 pic.twitter.com/uC7S2Kq11e
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 16, 2025
It also stressed the urgency of a swift return to the path of negotiations as the only viable means to reach a sustainable agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear programme.
The NPT is a global treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It calls on countries to work towards nuclear disarmament and cooperate for peaceful use of nuclear energy. A total of 191 countries are party to the NPT.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has not signed the NPT. Iran is a signatory but it has said it may withdraw from the treaty “in light of recent developments”.
The foreign ministers condemned Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory as violations of international law and the United Nations charter. They called for respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing the principles of good neighborliness and peaceful dispute resolution.
The statement follows a dramatic escalation in hostilities since early Friday, when Israel launched a series of coordinated airstrikes on targets across Iran, including military and nuclear sites. Iranian officials reported at least 224 people killed and over 1,000 injured, including senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
In retaliation, Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, killing at least 24 people and wounding hundreds, according to Israeli authorities.
The foreign ministers warned that the intensifying conflict risks plunging the region into broader instability and undermining prospects for peace.
“Diplomacy, dialogue, and adherence to the principles of good neighbourliness, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, remain the only viable path to resolving crises in the region, and that military means cannot bring about a lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis,” the statement concluded.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: No country can stop Israel-Iran war now. For Netanyahu & Khamenei, it’s a zero-sum game