ANKARA, Turkey: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced it would form a new ministerial contact group aimed at supporting diplomatic efforts and preventing further escalation between Iran, Israel, and other regional actors.

The move follows recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which have drawn sharp criticism from across the Islamic world. In a joint declaration issued after a foreign ministers' meeting in Istanbul, the 57-member OIC condemned "the aggression of Israel" and expressed "great concern regarding this dangerous escalation."

The group stressed the "urgent need to stop Israeli attacks" and called on the international community to impose deterrent measures and hold Israel accountable for crimes committed.

The move came ahead of a ceasefire entered into on Tuesday between Israel and Iran. The ceasefire was negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Although the joint declaration did not mention U.S. involvement in the strikes on Iran, the OIC also adopted a 13-article resolution addressing the broader conflict. This resolution explicitly condemned both the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and declared full solidarity with Tehran.

According to a draft of the resolution, the OIC urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "unequivocally condemn those attacks" and report them to the UN Security Council, labelling them as "barbaric" and in violation of international law.

The OIC also pressed Israel to "join without delay the treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" and to place all its nuclear sites under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.

While Israel has never confirmed or denied possessing nuclear weapons, it is widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East with such capability. The country has justified recent strikes as efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear arms.

In their resolution, the OIC member states also reaffirmed Iran's inherent right to self-defence, stating that Tehran had the right "to take all necessary measures to fully protect its sovereignty and citizens" and prevent similar "criminal acts" in the future.

The creation of a contact group reflects a growing urgency among Muslim-majority nations to manage rising hostilities and avoid broader regional fallout. The group will engage regularly with international and regional stakeholders to support diplomatic de-escalation.

The OIC, founded in 1969, is the world's second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations and often serves as a collective voice for the Muslim world on major geopolitical issues.