Foreign ministers from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany are expected to meet in Istanbul on Friday for talks hosted by Türkiye as the war involving Iran continues. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to attend, making the meeting the first in this seven-country format.
The discussions are expected to cover the conflict between the United States and Iran, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the war in Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and diplomatic efforts related to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Black Sea and disruptions to Ukrainian grain exports are also expected to be discussed.
Fidan is expected to argue for a diplomatic solution to the US-Iran conflict and emphasize the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb open to shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and its disruption during the conflict has made maritime security a central concern for the governments preparing to attend.
The meeting was initiated by Türkiye, with Germany also involved in organizing the talks. Earlier plans described the gathering as an effort to address the Strait of Hormuz and wider maritime security, while later reporting broadened the agenda to include Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Ukraine and Black Sea grain shipments.
The Istanbul meeting comes amid stalled efforts to reach a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran. Türkiye has maintained contacts with both sides and with regional mediators, while Germany has called for negotiations and for the strait to be reopened without restrictions. A previous framework discussed nuclear restrictions, sanctions relief, freedom of navigation and negotiations toward a wider settlement, but the verified material does not establish that the Istanbul meeting will produce a new agreement or a ceasefire.
The talks will therefore test whether the participating European and Middle Eastern governments can align their positions on diplomacy, maritime access and regional security. The immediate confirmed next step is the ministerial meeting itself; no final decisions or binding commitments had been announced before it began.