Iraq Assumes OIC Presidency at 52nd Foreign Ministers Session
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi opened the 52nd OIC session in Baghdad, assuming the rotating presidency and proposing a regional infrastructure integration initiative.
Foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened in Baghdad on October 17, 2026, for the group's 52nd session. During the opening of the two-day meeting, Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, officially assumed the OIC's rotating presidency from Türkiye.
The session, themed "Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Fundamental Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development," focuses on regional crises and sustainable development. Prime Minister al-Zaidi emphasized that the Palestinian cause is central to regional conflict and that securing rights for the Palestinian people is essential for stability. The council is specifically addressing ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
To bolster economic stability and security, al-Zaidi announced an Iraqi initiative to integrate energy grids, railway networks, digital communications, and payment systems among member states. He also praised Pakistan for its efforts to defuse regional tensions.
The meeting includes high-level attendance from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Baghdad to address the assembly and conduct bilateral talks. Officials from Egypt and Türkiye also attended, while Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar was absent.
