Saudi, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey unite behind Iran-US diplomacy, condemn Houthi strikes

NEW YORK, Sep 22:  The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey have called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve regional conflicts and urged adherence to the Islamabad memorandum between Iran and the United States, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday.

The ministers met in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where they expressed concern over continued regional tensions and military operations.

They said diplomacy remains the only path to achieving sustainable solutions to regional conflicts and called for efforts to reduce tensions through dialogue.

The four ministers also strongly condemned attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including recent attacks by the Houthi group, and affirmed Riyadh’s right to defend itself in accordance with the UN Charter.

They stressed the importance of protecting the freedom and safety of maritime navigation amid continuing regional tensions.

Meanwhile, several Arab countries are holding contacts with both the United States and Iran in an effort to arrange a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Axios reported Tuesday, citing a regional source involved in the discussions.

US President Donald Trump is expected to meet representatives of nine Arab countries on Tuesday to discuss the conflict involving Iran, according to regional sources cited by Axios.

Several of the Arab representatives are expected to urge Washington to de-escalate tensions and pursue an agreement with Tehran, the sources said.