KUALA LUMPUR, July 28: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Friday Iran would join a summit of key Muslim countries in Malaysia next week to discuss the escalating Middle East crisis.

Earlier this week, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the Organisation of the Islamic Conference was likely to hold an executive committee meeting to discuss the crisis.

Malaysia is the current chair of the Saudi Arabia-based pan-Islamic group.

Mr Mottaki on Friday met his counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, all members of the OIC who were attending Asian security talks here.

He said the Aug 3 meeting arose from grave concerns over the violence and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, where Israel has launched a military offensive against Lebanon.

“The Islamic countries are trying their very best to solve the crisis,” Mr Motakki said at a press conference.

He said representatives from more than 15 countries were expected to attend the meeting.

“We hope to look at the realities, to make decisions in solving the problems and crisis and have a comprehensive approach, a united approach by all the Muslim countries,” Mr Mottaki said.—AFP