R4 foreign ministers (Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan) condemn Houthi attacks in Istanbul, urge Hormuz passage resumption; first R4+E4 talks with UK, France, Germany, Italy

Istanbul, Türkiye

“R4,” the foreign-minister forum of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan, met in Istanbul, Türkiye, on October 23 (local time) and condemned the Houthi rebels' escalation and their attacks on Saudi Arabia “in the strongest terms.” In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the four foreign ministers said they reject any measures or restrictions that impede lawful navigation and called for “the swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” The R4 foreign ministers also met the same day, for the first time together, with the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, and discussed the conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran, the Houthi attacks, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

According to the joint statement, the four foreign ministers, united by a shared will to contribute to diplomatic efforts in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, discussed regional issues of common concern that day, in keeping with their mutual interest in promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

“Houthis attacking Saudi civilians and civilian infrastructure”…“All military action must stop immediately”

According to the full text of the R4 joint statement that Saudi state news agency SPA carried from Istanbul on October 23, the foreign ministers condemned in the strongest terms, regarding the Yemen issue, “the unacceptable escalation by the Houthi militia, which has deepened humanitarian suffering.” The statement also condemned “the continued attacks by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including in particular attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the attacks carried out against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.”

The foreign ministers expressed full solidarity with the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia and urged the Houthi militia to immediately cease all military action, threats and attacks and to return to the political process in good faith. The Saudi Foreign Ministry posted the joint statement on its official X account the same day, and the Pakistani Foreign Ministry also issued the same joint statement as Press Release No. 305.

The R4 meeting came just after Houthi rebels attacked eastern Saudi Arabia. In a statement the day before, on October 22, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said the Houthi attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, had killed two people and injured several others and caused material damage, and condemned it. The same day, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also described two attacks by the “terrorist Houthi militia” on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah oil field as “terrorist attacks” and condemned them in the strongest terms.

“Disruption of sea lanes threatens everyone's security and prosperity”…Restrictions on Hormuz passage rejected

The joint statement spoke of “the freedom of navigation, lasting maritime safety and security, and the crucial importance of protecting navigation rights and freedoms.” The foreign ministers said disruption of sea lanes blocks the flow of global supply chains, energy, fertilizer and food, affecting vulnerable populations in the region and beyond and threatening everyone's security and prosperity, and that responding to such challenges requires a joint effort by the international community.

The foreign ministers said they reject any measures or restrictions that impede lawful navigation and called for the swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

“US-Israel-Iran conflict to be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy”…Support for ‘Islamabad MoU’

On “the military conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran, and the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz,” the joint statement said the conflict should be addressed only through dialogue and diplomacy and that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including vessels, must be prevented. The foreign ministers expressed support for the “Islamabad MoU,” welcomed continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and reaffirmed their commitment to a lasting negotiated settlement.

The Islamabad MoU is a document signed in June by the United States and Iran. In a release issued on June 19, the White House said “President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance secured a historic breakthrough by signing a memorandum of understanding with Iran,” adding that “this agreement, forged through resolute American strength, ensures Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and reopens the Strait of Hormuz to free navigation.” A statement by the Group of Seven (G7) leaders carried in the White House release at the time said, “We welcome the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran, secured with the support of mediators under President Trump's strong leadership,” and that “it provides a historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and to address threats related to Iran's regional and ballistic missile activities.” The G7 leaders added that they “support the implementation of the agreement and stand ready to contribute to it.”

The leaders of the four European countries that sent foreign ministers to the Istanbul meeting also welcomed the MoU at the time. According to the White House release, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “a hugely important step in ending the war, securing regional stability and reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” and congratulated President Trump and mediating countries including Pakistan and Qatar. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “President Trump signed the agreement between Iran and the United States tonight in Versailles,” adding that “this agreement opens the path to lasting peace and makes it possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “The agreement with Iran is an opportunity for regional stability and for the global economy,” and that “the peace that has been agreed must now hold.”

Qatar's Foreign Ministry, one of the mediating countries, said at the time, “The State of Qatar welcomes the electronic signing by the United States and Iran of a memorandum of understanding addressing outstanding issues between the two sides, including the cessation of military operations and guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” A statement by the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, carried in the White House release, said the agreement contains “an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for further negotiations.”

According to Radio Pakistan, the state broadcaster of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on X on June 18 that the memorandum had been signed by the presidents of the two countries and that he had also approved it as mediator. Sharif said the memorandum takes effect immediately and that, as a first step, Iran will immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States will immediately lift its naval blockade. In a statement carried in the White House release, Sharif said, “President Trump's firm commitment to diplomacy and his preference for peaceful resolution have once again helped to end a conflict.”

Palestinian issue…“Early implementation of two-state solution” demanded

The joint statement also set out the R4's position on the Palestinian issue. The foreign ministers called for the early implementation of the two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions and reiterated support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines. The statement identified Israel's occupation as the root cause of regional instability and condemned settlement activity and settler violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The foreign ministers urged that Israel's continuing violence and attempts to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem be ended urgently, and said the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and its reconstruction are urgent. They agreed to continue close consultation and coordination on the matters raised in the statement.

First ‘R4+E4’ meeting with UK, French, German and Italian foreign ministers…“Dialogue to continue in this format”

The R4 foreign ministers met the same day with the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar described it the next day on his official X account as “the first meeting between the R4 and the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany and Italy.” According to a joint press release posted on October 24 by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the foreign ministers of the eight countries met in Istanbul on October 23. The release said they discussed the conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran, the Israel-Palestine conflict and the need for a negotiated two-state solution, the “appalling attacks by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and the Government of Yemen,” the safety and freedom of navigation, heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Black Sea.

The foreign ministers expressed their commitment to continue contributing to diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond and to address the security, economic and trade implications of these issues.

The foreign ministers of the eight countries agreed on the urgent need to address regional conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation, and said lasting negotiated solutions should be found to all unresolved conflicts in line with relevant UN resolutions. They agreed to continue dialogue in this format to prevent conflicts and promote peace and stability in the region.

According to Türkiye's Foreign Ministry, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the meeting that day, attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, and held bilateral talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

After the meeting, Fidan wrote on his official X account, “After the R4 meeting we held in Istanbul today with our Pakistani, Saudi and Egyptian counterparts, we hosted an important event bringing eight countries together, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.” He said, “We addressed all the interconnected issues and conflicts of the Middle East and Europe,” adding that “we agreed to resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy on the basis of regional ownership.” Fidan went on to write, “We hope that this initiative we have led will achieve continuity and contribute to peace and stability in our region and beyond,” and that “Türkiye will continue to shoulder responsibility for resolving regional problems, drawing on its central position between the two regions.”

Foreign ministers call on President Erdoğan

According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, after the R4 and R4+E4 meetings the foreign ministers called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul the same day. Deputy Prime Minister Dar conveyed the greetings of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (Field Marshal) Syed Asim Munir to President Erdoğan and expressed gratitude for Türkiye's warm hospitality and for hosting the meeting. Dar reaffirmed the special bond, longstanding friendship and high-level strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said President Erdoğan welcomed the foreign ministers and praised the R4 and R4+E4 discussions, and that the talks featured a candid exchange of views on regional and international developments and addressed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomatic engagement.

According to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Istanbul the same day to attend the R4 foreign ministers' meeting and the R4-European countries foreign ministers' meeting, and met separately with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on the sidelines. The two ministers reviewed the close relations between their countries and discussed recent regional developments, focusing on the situation in Yemen, and reaffirmed their condemnation of “the attacks and cowardly attempts by the terrorist Houthi militia targeting civilian areas in the Kingdom.” The two also discussed efforts to ease tensions and ensure the safety and freedom of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and reaffirmed their countries' shared will to support peace, security and stability in the region. The next day, Dar wrote on his official X account that the visit to Türkiye was a “short but highly productive 15-hour visit.”

Sources (KST)

• Saudi Press Agency (SPA) English article N2708727 “Joint Statement of the R4 Foreign Ministers' Meeting” (October 23, 2026, Istanbul): https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2708727
• Saudi Press Agency (SPA) English article N2709012 “R4 + Four European Foreign Ministers' Meeting” (October 24, 2026, Istanbul): https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2709012
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) “Joint Press Release on the R4 Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul” (October 24, 2026): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-press-release-on-the-r4-ministerial-meeting-in-istanbul
• Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs “The R4 and R4+E3 Foreign Ministers Meetings, 23 October 2026, İstanbul”: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/r4-ve-r4_e3-disisleri-bakanlari-toplantilari-23-ekim-2026-istanbul.en.mfa
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs X post (@KSAmofaEN, R4 joint statement, October 23, 2026): https://x.com/KSAmofaEN/status/2113731656141951056
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs X post (@KSAmofaEN, Faisal's arrival in Istanbul): https://x.com/KSAmofaEN/status/2113611395845460193
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs X post (@KSAmofaEN, Faisal–Dar talks): https://x.com/KSAmofaEN/status/2113726893379707204
• Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs X statement (@MofaQatar_EN, condemnation of attack on King Fahd International Airport, October 22, 2026): https://x.com/MofaQatar_EN/status/2113277374884131031
• GCC General Secretariat X post (@GCCSG, October 22, 2026): https://x.com/GCCSG/status/2113305351466414229
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs X post (@KSAmofaEN, R4 + four European countries meeting, October 24, 2026): https://x.com/KSAmofaEN/status/2113899003243102230
• Türkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan X post (@HakanFidan, October 23, 2026): https://x.com/HakanFidan/status/2113704571927150789
• Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs X post (@ForeignOfficePk, call on President Erdoğan, October 23, 2026): https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2113707016917237806
• Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release PR No. 305/2026 (posted on X): https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2113691939984056732
• Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release PR No. 307/2026 (posted on X): https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2113888880457834550
• Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar X post (@MIshaqDar50, October 24, 2026): https://x.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2113850104889381104
• Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar X post (@MIshaqDar50, visit highlights, October 24, 2026): https://x.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2113953236256473523
• White House “President Trump's Iran Agreement Is America First in Action” (June 19, 2026): https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/06/president-trumps-iran-agreement-is-america-first-in-action/
• Radio Pakistan (Pakistan state broadcaster) “US, Iran electronically sign historic Islamabad MoU: PM” (June 18, 2026): https://www.radio.gov.pk/18-06-2026/us-iran-electronically-sign-historic-islamabad-mou-pm