National flags of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states

Iran says the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), given its great potential, can help build unity in the Islamic Ummah, expressing hope that the body will double its efforts, under its new secretary, to advance the interests of its member states and the entire Muslim world.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Thursday extended his congratulations to Hussein Ibrahim Taha on his term as new OIC secretary general.

The OIC enjoys enormous potential for building unity in the Islamic Ummah (nation) and for making Islam’s pure and sublime principles and values materialize, he said.

He expressed hope that the organization would increase its efforts during Taha’s tenure to reinforce unity among Muslims and bring about tangible results in securing the common interests of the Islamic Ummah and the OIC member states in international interactions.

In separate messages to Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the new OIC chief has expressed readiness for strengthening cooperation with Iran, he noted.

Iran stands ready for close and fraternal cooperation with the organization’s secretary general based on the principle of guaranteeing equal opportunities for free and full participation and activities all member states with the organization’s charter, Khatibzadeh said.

The Iranian spokesperson pointed to the issue of Palestine and the need to fight the Israeli regime’s acts of aggression in confiscating the Palestinians’ assets.

He stressed the importance of making use of the OIC capacities to confront the unholy trend normalization with the Tel Aviv regime by promoting unity among the OIC member states.

Under US-pushed normalization deals, a number of OIC members - namely the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco - have agreed to establish official ties with Israel, triggering a wave of condemnation from Palestine and supporters of its cause against Israel’s occupation.