The Gambia's Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, who chairs the OIC, warned that Haniyeh’s assassination and the ongoing conflict in Gaza could trigger a broader regional war. Tangara emphasized that the killing on Iranian soil was not an isolated event but an act that could exacerbate existing tensions, potentially leading to wider conflict.
Both Iran and Palestine requested the OIC meeting, held in the Saudi city of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia echoed the condemnation, with Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khereiji describing the assassination as a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty. Al-Khereiji reiterated Saudi Arabia's stance against any infringement on the sovereignty of states or interference in their internal affairs.
While Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for Haniyeh's death, the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. In response, Iran has vowed retaliation, threatening severe consequences for Israel. However, the United States and other Western nations have urged restraint, cautioning that further escalation could worsen the ongoing crises in the region.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted on Wednesday that several OIC members share Washington's view that escalation would only deepen the conflicts. Miller expressed hope that OIC members would convey to Iran, as the U.S. has to Israel, the importance of avoiding actions that could escalate the situation further, warning that regional escalation could undermine the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza.
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