A senior diplomat said Iran is seeking to promote unity among members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi made the statement in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday in Istanbul where he headed a delegation to the two-day senior officials meeting on Sunday and Monday in preparation for the OIC's 13th Islamic Summit Conference.
Araqchi said Tehran is opposed to destroying unity among Muslims by those who bring their subjective problems with others to the organization.
"Many members of the OIC are devoting efforts toward greater unity and solidarity, but we are facing some unity-breaking moves by certain countries," he said. "This is what should be dealt with. The stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to promote cooperation and unity among Muslims."
Araqchi also said Tehran will continue efforts to prevent the organization from forgetting its primary objective, which is to support the Palestinian cause against Israel, the main threat to Muslim countries.
"This issue has always topped the OIC agenda and will retain its place," he said. "It should not be undermined or marginalized."
Following the meeting, the foreign ministers' preparatory meeting opened on Tuesday and will run until Wednesday in Istanbul. It was attended by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who flew to Turkey on Monday night.
The 13th summit at the level of heads of state, under the theme "Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace", will be convened on Thursday and Friday. President Hassan Rouhani will participate in the summit.
The Palestine issue, Arab-Israel conflict, terrorism, Islamophobia, humanitarian situation in the Muslim world and adoption of the "OIC Program of Action: 2016-25" will be discussed in the summit.
The summit convenes every three years. The previous Islamic Summit Conference was held on February 6–7, 2013, in Cairo, Egypt.
