Arab Nations Urge for De-escalation as Trump Calls Iranians to Evacuate Tehran

Leaders

17-06-2025

As the conflict rages between Iran and Israel, 21 Arab and Muslim countries called for de-escalation and a comprehensive ceasefire to restore calm in the region.
Meanwhile, the US President, Donald Trump, issued a warning to the Iranian people, urging them to evacuate Tehran as the Iran-Israel conflict entered its fifth day. Arab-Islamic Condemnation
In a joint statement on Monday, 21 Arab and Muslim countries expressed concern over the dangerous escalation in the Middle East, warning of its repercussions on the security and stability of the entire region. They also stressed the need for ending Israeli hostilities against Iran, urging for de-escalation and a comprehensive ceasefire.
According to the Middle East News Agency, the signatories included the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Pakistan, Türkiye, Chad, Libya, Algeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and other Arab and Muslim countries.
The ministers reiterated their rejection and condemnation of the Israeli attacks against Iran, which started on June 13, 2025, and any violations of the international law and the UN Charter. They also emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Nuclear-Free Middle East
In their joint statement, the foreign ministers underscored their support for a Middle East that is free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. They also urged all countries in the region to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Moreover, they warned against the targeting of nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards, as such attacks would represent a blatant violation of international and humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Convention. The Arab and Muslim foreign ministers urged for the return to negotiations as the only viable way to reach a sustainable agreement on Iran's nuclear program.
Furthermore, the foreign ministers stressed the need to protect the freedom of navigation in international waters and to avoid actions that undermine maritime security. They concluded their statement by emphasizing that diplomacy and dialogue are the only path to resolve disputes in the region, reiterating that the current crisis cannot be solved through military means. Trump Warns Iranians
As the Iran-Israel conflict entered its fifth day, the US President stressed that Tehran cannot possess a nuclear weapon, urging the Iranian people to evacuate the capital.
'Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' he wrote on Truth Social.
Iran and Israel have been exchanging heavy airstrikes since Friday, June 13. The Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran, mostly civilians, while 24 people have been killed in Israel, according to Reuters. No US Ceasefire Proposal
Trump left the G7 Summit in Canada a day earlier due to the ongoing escalation in the Middle East. In the light of this, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, said that the US President had proposed a ceasefire deal for Iran and Israel, Reuters reported.
'There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,' Macron said.
However, Trump denied that he was working on a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, saying that he cut short his trip to Canada for another reason. 'Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Ceasefire. Much bigger than that,' he posted on Truth Social in response to Macron's remarks. US-Iranian Meeting
The US is discussing the possibility of holding a meeting this week between Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, Axios reported citing four sources briefed on the matter. The meeting aims to discuss a diplomatic initiative that includes a nuclear deal and an end to the ongoing conflict.
Trump has so far refused to join Israel in its war on Iran, although the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been pushing him to do so and bomb the Iranian enrichment facility at Fordo. The White House maintains that the US is still seeking a deal with Iran and that the American forces are in a defensive posture to protect US assets in the region.
'American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests,' the White House Spokesperson, Alex Pfeiffer, wrote on X.
Similarly, the US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, told Fox News that the US would defend its interests in the region, stressing that Trump was still pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran. 'President Trump hopes there will be peace,' he said.
In response, Araghchi said that Israel must stop its aggression before any talks. 'If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,' he posted on X.
'Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy,' he added.
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