Istanbul to host eight-nation talks on Hormuz and Middle East crises

European and R4 ministers join talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host ministers from Britain, France, Germany and Italy, together with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt. Britain, France and Germany make up the E3, while Turkey and the other three Middle Eastern and South Asian participants form the newly created R4.

A Turkish foreign ministry source said the discussions would address Palestinian issues, the situation in Yemen, developments around Hormuz and possible ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband's office identified the main focus as "the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia." It said he "will advocate for a diplomatic solution to the (Hormuz) crisis that restores full navigational rights and freedoms."

His office also said Miliband would emphasize "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."

France described the subject of the talks as "the Iranian crisis in its various ramifications" and called the gathering a first "in this format... against a backdrop of extreme instability and uncertainty in the region." Its foreign ministry said the goal was to "strengthen coordination between Europeans and Middle Eastern countries in the face of crises that we did not choose and that affect us all."

Earlier R4 diplomacy

The broader gathering follows two rounds of R4 consultations hosted by Egypt: in Cairo on June 21, 2026, and at its diplomatic mission in New York on September 21, according to SEE News.

The September statement combined condemnation of attacks on Saudi Arabia with support for Palestinian statehood and calls for political solutions in Yemen. The four governments also backed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the framework Washington and Tehran agreed to in June.

In a further statement on October 11, the R4 condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.

Egypt also pursued direct talks with Iran. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Baghdad on October 17, urging an end to attacks on Saudi Arabia and a resumption of US-Iran negotiations.

Defense pact and Egypt's separate decision

Turkey's hosting of the meeting comes amid its efforts to expand its regional role. Those efforts include the Mecca Defense Alliance, a pact it launched with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was submitted to Turkey's parliament for ratification on October 20.

Ankara says the pact does not target any particular country and is open to additional members, including Egypt. Cairo has not decided whether to join and is not a signatory. Its proposed military assistance to Saudi Arabia is proceeding through a separate constitutional process.

On Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt would "defend Saudi territory" but would not participate in an attack on Yemen.

Egypt's House of Representatives is due to resume deliberations on Monday, October 26, on Sisi's request to authorize defensive military support if Saudi Arabia asks for assistance, SEE News reported.

Article 152 of Egypt's constitution requires consultation with the National Defence Council before armed forces can be sent on combat missions abroad, as well as parliamentary approval by a two-thirds majority. In the 596-member chamber, at least 398 votes are required.