The 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened in Baghdad on Saturday, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in the Iraqi capital to attend the event.

The session opened under the theme “Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Essential Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development.”

It began after all participating delegations arrived in Baghdad, while the ministry announced on Friday that preparations for the two-day gathering were completed.

The meeting brings together foreign ministers from 57 Islamic nations to discuss key regional and international issues, with the Palestinian question and Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza among the expected priorities.

“Iraq has assumed the chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Council of Foreign Ministers from the Republic of Turkey, following the opening of the session by Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi,” Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson ambassador Hassanein Kamil said.

Ahead of the session, OIC Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed stressed that escalating regional and international tensions have increased the collective responsibility of member states to strengthen stability and Islamic solidarity.

He also called for decisions that respond to current challenges and for continued efforts to improve the organization’s working mechanisms so it can carry out its responsibilities more effectively.

The agenda is expected to cover developments in Palestine, the humanitarian and political situation across the region, economic cooperation, food security, and coordination among member states in addressing shared challenges.

Iraq’s largest political bloc warns of plots to weaken Hashd al-Sha’abi, revive terrorism

Iraq’s largest political bloc has warned of foreign plots aimed at weakening Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and reviving terrorist groups in the country.

During his visit, Araghchi is scheduled to deliver a speech outlining Iran’s positions at the ministerial meeting and hold bilateral talks with a number of his counterparts from Islamic countries.

Upon arriving at the airport, the Iranian foreign minister also paid tribute at the memorial site of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the two resistance commanders who were assassinated in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.