Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul on Friday in an unprecedented format for talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and crises across the Middle East.
Ministers from Britain, France and Germany -- the so-called E3 -- as well as Italy met counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Yemen, Hormuz -- a crucial trade route blocked in the Iran war -- and ways to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The talks began at an Istanbul hotel overlooking the Bosphorus, after separate meetings of top European diplomats and diplomats from regional countries.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said a new escalation between Iran and the United States "would create nothing but losers and would undoubtedly have very serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices".
"And so the first thing this group of eight countries ... will do is call on both sides to exercise the utmost restraint, because we cannot afford another escalation in the region," he told journalists on the sidelines of the talks in Istanbul.
Italy's Antonio Tajani said the aim was to work for "de-escalation to guarantee freedom of navigation".
"I do not believe the problem can be solved from a purely military standpoint," he said.
"If we want to reopen Hormuz, which is vital for our economies, we must promote dialogue and make Iran understand that this attitude cannot continue."
- 'Iranian tactics' -
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the meeting as Türkiye stepped up efforts to strengthen its regional role, including through the Makkah Defense Alliance, a defense pact launched with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August.
Türkiye has said the pact is not aimed at any specific country and remains open to others, including Egypt.
"Our platform has several advantages, particularly because it is informal and flexible and focuses specifically on the issues we face. It allows us to exchange information and coordinate our positions more effectively," Fidan told reporters.
"We are not aware of any other platform that brings together countries with such different geographical and political backgrounds. Türkiye, in particular, is well placed to play a constructive role in this process."
Cairo has yet to decide whether to join the alliance. On Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt would "defend Saudi territory" and would not take part in any attack on Yemen.
Iran-backed Houthis are battling Yemen's legitimate government and have launched attacks on Saudi Arabia.
British foreign minister Ed Miliband's office said ahead of the talks they would essentially revolve around "the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia".
It said Miliband would "advocate for a diplomatic solution to the (Hormuz) crisis that restores full navigational rights and freedoms".
He was also to stress "how Iranian tactics are being replicated across the region, with attacks on Saudi Arabia further destabilizing the region and increasing pressure on vital waterways and global chokepoints, such as Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal".
- 'De-escalation' -
Fidan stressed that regional security required countries in the region to assume responsibility and that Ankara prioritized cooperation mechanisms based on "regional ownership".
"Regional frameworks turn into credible platforms for action and cooperation", he said ahead of the talks.
"Stability cannot simply be imported, and lasting solutions cannot be imposed from outside. Those who live with conflict must play a central role in resolving it," he added.
The eight countries "decided, after very constructive discussions, to continue the work by meeting at regular intervals", Barrot said.
