Muslim nations lambast Iran for supporting terrorism

Organization of Islamic Cooperation issue a communique saying it "deplores" Iran's interference in internal affairs of regional players.

By REUTERS
Updated: APRIL 15, 2016 17:12
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Istanbul Summit, April 14, 2016 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Istanbul Summit, April 14, 2016
(photo credit: REUTERS)
ISTANBUL - Leaders from more than 50 Muslim nations accused Iran on Friday of supporting terrorism and interfering in the internal affairs of regional states including Syria and Yemen.
The leaders, including Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, have been attending a summit in Istanbul this week of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss a range of issues such as the humanitarian fall-out from Syria's civil war.
"The Conference deplored Iran's interference in the internal affairs of the States of the region and other Member States including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia, and its continued support for terrorism," the OIC said in its final summit communique.
It also stressed the need for "cooperative relations" between Iran and other Muslim countries, including refraining from the use or threat of force.
Both Turkey, which has assumed the three-year rotating presidency of the OIC, and Saudi Arabia are part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants in Syria and are also opponents of President Bashar Assad, a stance that has put them at odds with Iran, an ally of the Syrian leader.
Shi'ite Iran is also allied with the Houthi movement in Yemen, which has been battling forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed president in a conflict that has killed more than 6,000 people since March 2015.
The final communique came a day after Iran's Rouhani urged summit delegates to avoid sending out divisive messages.
"No message which would fuel division in the Islamic community should come out of the conference," said Rouhani, according to Iranian state television.