RIYADH, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of 12 Arab and Islamic states held a consultative ministerial meeting here on Wednesday on the regional development, during which they urged Iran to halt its attacks, and condemned Israel's "expansionist policy" in the region.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the officials of Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, among other countries, called on Iran to immediately halt its attacks and affirmed the necessity of respecting international law and the principles of good neighborliness, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They affirmed that the halt in the attacks is the first step toward ending the escalation, achieving security and stability in the region, and promoting diplomacy to resolve the crisis. They also urged Iran to refrain from any measures or threats that would close or obstruct international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministers emphasized that the future of relations with Iran depends on respecting the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, refraining from violating their sovereignty or territories and from using or developing its military capabilities to threaten regional countries.
The ministers reaffirmed support for the security, stability and territorial integrity of Lebanon, affirmed the sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all its territories, and supported the Lebanese government's decision to limit weapons to the state.
They also condemned Israel's aggression against Lebanon and its "expansionist policy" in the region.
The ministers voiced their commitment to continuing intensive consultation and coordination in this regard, monitoring developments and assessing emerging issues, and ensuring the formulation of common positions and the adoption of necessary, legitimate measures and procedures to protect their security, stability and sovereignty.
The meeting came amid heightened tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. ■
