Iran’s Pezeshkian calls for unity against Israeli attacks at D-8 summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Thursday on Islamic countries to unite to stop Israeli attacks in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

Addressing the D-8 summit in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Pezeshkian said the “brutal killings of civilians” in Gaza have “revealed new dimensions of terror.”

“It is our religious, legal, and humanitarian duty to take more practical and immediate actions to prevent further harm to our loved ones in crisis-stricken areas,” he added.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,100 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Iranian leader arrived in Cairo late Wednesday to attend the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation summit hosted by Egypt this year.

The visit was the first by an Iranian president to Egypt in over a decade, as relations between the two countries have long been strained.

The D-8 member countries are Iran, Türkiye, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Nigeria. It was formed in 1997 through the Istanbul Declaration of the Summit of Heads of State.

Multilateral cooperation

Pezeshkian said he hopes Egypt’s presidency of the D-8 will witness the “deepening of friendship and brotherhood among members” as well as “enhanced multilateral cooperation.”

“Significant aspects of human civilization’s history have unfolded in the land of Egypt, along the great Nile River. The historical and mesmerizing beauty of this Islamic land continues to showcase a masterpiece of blending ancient civilization with rich Islamic culture,” he said.

The Iranian president said that preserving friendship and forging new connections “through multilateral cooperation among Islamic countries, based on development and collective interests, is more critical than ever.”

Pezeshkian said the theme of this year’s summit had been wisely chosen, and the move toward multilateralism and the creation of smart economic and trade networks is a “logical approach reflecting the aspirations of the majority of D-8 member states.”

“Knowledge-based initiatives and the path of development are areas where youth play a pioneering role. D-8 member countries, with their vast human and infrastructural capabilities, can achieve an exceptional position in integrating industry and technology,” he added.

He said Iran is prepared to support joint entrepreneurial efforts by young people within the D-8 framework, which includes creating a shared D-8 idea and investment bank, establishing joint science and technology parks, organizing scientific and technological tours and meetings, investing in small and medium-sized enterprises to address youth employment challenges, and hosting exhibitions of knowledge-based products.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the low volume of trade among D-8 countries, hoping for an increase.

“I propose that the summit issues directives for the effective utilization of modern technologies to enhance the resilience of member states’ economies,” he said.

Pezeshkian said Iran will host the first meeting of the D-8 communication and information technology committee soon.