Muslim-Majority Nations Walk Out During Israeli President’s Speech at Azerbaijan Summit
A diplomatic protest unfolded in Baku, Azerbaijan, after delegations from several Muslim-majority countries reportedly walked out of a regional summit while Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered his address. The incident highlighted continuing divisions over Israel and the wider Middle East conflict.
Delegations Leave the Hall in Protest
Video from the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) showed representatives leaving the hall after Herzog began speaking on Thursday.
Reports identified Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh among the countries involved in the protest. Some accounts said that 13 of the 28 delegations represented at the meeting participated in the walkout.
Iran’s delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who reportedly joined other representatives in leaving the hall.
However, reports differed over Qatar’s position. Some accounts said Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani remained seated during Herzog’s speech, while others included Qatar among the delegations that walked out.
Herzog had arrived in the Azerbaijani capital on Wednesday to attend the summit, which brings together Asian leaders and senior officials to discuss regional security, cooperation, and confidence-building measures.
Despite the public protest, Herzog continued his diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the gathering. He reportedly met Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to discuss bilateral relations, the Abraham Accords, and broader regional developments.
The walkout became one of the summit’s most politically significant moments, demonstrating how disagreements over Israel continue to shape diplomatic relations across the region.
Iran Says Negotiations Must Go Hand in Hand With Military Readiness
Meanwhile, Iran has reiterated that diplomatic negotiations alone cannot guarantee its security against potential future attacks by the United States.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran must remain prepared for war while pursuing negotiations to establish what he described as sustainable deterrence.
In a televised address, Ghalibaf argued that Iran’s primary concern was preventing another American attack. He accused Washington of repeatedly breaking its promises and warned that Tehran could not afford to lower its military guard, even if diplomatic discussions continued.
Ghalibaf questioned whether a signed agreement with the United States would be enough to prevent future military action against Iran. In his view, written commitments would have little value unless they were supported by credible guarantees and a fundamental change in American behavior.
He also called for Washington to change its approach toward Iran, delivering a defiant message that negotiations must not come at the expense of national security.
Diplomacy Under the Shadow of Conflict
The two developments reflect a broader challenge facing the Middle East and its international partners: how to maintain diplomatic engagement while deep disagreements over security and military action remain unresolved.
The walkout in Azerbaijan underscored the political sensitivity surrounding Israel’s participation in international forums. Meanwhile, Ghalibaf’s remarks highlighted Iran’s deep distrust of Washington and its determination to combine diplomacy with military preparedness.
For Tehran, negotiations may offer a path toward reducing tensions, but Iranian officials insist that any agreement must be backed by credible deterrence. Whether diplomacy can overcome these divisions remains uncertain as regional rivalries continue to influence international relations.
