• First-ever meeting of ‘E3’ and ‘R4’ groups discusses situation in Hormuz, Ukraine war and Gaza crisis
• Fidan says ‘no one supports’ military escalation; France’s Barrot warns any US-Iran entanglement could raise oil prices further
• R4 members back Saudi Arabia, slam Houthi attacks; call on rebels to return to political process
• Assail Israel’s destabilising role in Gaza and Gulf region; call for urgent end to violence against Palestinians
ISTANBUL: In a rare confab, foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany and Italy sat down with their counterparts from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday to discuss the conflicts plaguing the Middle East, and warned against any renewal of hostilities in the region.
The first-ever meeting of the ‘E3+R4’ group followed reports that the US and Israeli militaries had drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the US midterm congressional election next month.
The R4 mechanism was established by Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to support lasting stability and strengthen dialogue on regional issues based on the principle of regional ownership.
The E3 mechanism, comprising Germany, the UK and France, emerged in 2003 as part of trilateral diplomatic cooperation concerning Iran’s nuclear programme; but Friday’s meeting also featured the Italian foreign minister.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned against an attack on Iran, saying such a move would exacerbate tensions and further expand the conflict.
According to TRT World, he said the forum “discussed in detail the war in Ukraine, Iran, Strait of Hormuz, attacks on Saudi Arabia, Israel’s destabilising role, and other regional and global issues”.
He maintained that all countries at the table want to prevent the spread of war in both the Gulf and Ukraine.
“Military intervention in Iran is by no means a solution. No one supports this at the moment,” TRT World quoted him as saying.
Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine war, Mr Fidan said: “Either the war must stop, or, if it does not, parties must agree to exemptions for energy and grain issues.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that renewed escalation between Iran and the US would only have losers and raise oil prices.
Even though US President Donald Trump said earlier this month that the US would not launch an attack on Iran before the midterms, his stance has shifted in recent days.
On Friday, he said the US could end the war quickly but questioned whether Washington should seek a swift conclusion or allow the conflict to gradually wind down.
According to the Foreign Office, the meeting provided an opportunity for exchange of views on regional developments in the Gulf region, their social and economic impacts, and the urgent need to foster diplomatic engagement to resolve regional challenges of peace, security, and stability.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who represented Pakistan at the meeting, briefed his counterparts on the diplomatic and mediatory role Pakistan continues to play in de-escalating tensions, preventing resumption of hostilities and promoting peace.
R4 meeting
Separately, the R4 group of ministers also held a separate meeting. A joint statement issued after the huddle said the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt had stressed the “urgent need” to address US-Iran conflict only through dialogue and diplomacy, as well emphasising prevention of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructures, including vessels.
They expressed support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and welcomed continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and reaffirmed their commitment to a lasting negotiated solution, the joint statement said.
The participants further underscored the “vital importance” of freedom of navigation, permanent maritime safety and security and safeguarding navigational rights and freedoms.
“They noted that disruption of sea lanes threatens the security and prosperity of all, through blocking global supply chains, flows of energy, fertiliser and food, impacting vulnerable populations in the region and beyond, and thus, requires collective efforts by the international community to address these challenges.”
The ministers also rejected any measures or restrictions that impair lawful navigation and called for the swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the statement said, adding that the participants agreed to maintain close consultation and coordination on the afore-mentioned matters.
The four ministers also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed their support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to the FO, the group condemned the Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and underscored the importance of respecting state sovereignty.
“They expressed their full solidarity with the government of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and called on the Houthi militia to immediately cease all military actions, threats and attacks, and to return to the political process in good faith,” the statement said.
Palestine crisis
Moreover, they emphasised that the Israeli occupation in Gaza constituted the “fundamental source of instability” in the region and beyond, and that Israeli policies creates a “deep sense of injustice in global public opinion”.
They called for the early implementation of the two-state solution in Palestine, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
“They reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions in order to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” the statement said.
The ministers called for an “urgent end” to the ongoing Israeli violence, as well as attempts to change the legal and historical status of Jerusalem, and to bring an end to further destruction and humanitarian tragedy in Palestine.
They condemned all the previous and current settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem,
as well as the settler violence against Palestinians and underlined the urgent need for uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to and reconstruction in Gaza.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026
