Ukraine says US, Israeli strikes on Iran justified to stop nuclear threat

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Sunday it would form a ministerial contact group to engage with international and regional actors to support de-escalation efforts and “stop the aggression against Iran.”

In a joint statement following a meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul, the 57-member group condemned “the aggression of Israel” but made no reference to overnight US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a separate statement on Sunday, the OIC's General Secretariat expressed "deep concern" over US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"The US strikes are a dangerous escalation that could lead to heightened tensions and threaten regional security, peace, and stability," the statement read.

Iran has prepared itself for a war with Israel lasting at least two to six months, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported.

“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them (Iran) about that, because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said when asked if anticipates Tehran to close off the strait in retaliation against US strikes on its nuclear sites.

“If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake…It’s economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that,” he added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that if Tehran retaliates against US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, “it'll be the worst mistake they've ever made.”

Speaking to Fox News, he added that the United States is not looking for war in Iran.

The US top diplomat said Iran has highly enriched uranium in sufficient quantities in order to make at least nine or 10 nuclear bombs.

"They had it all in place, now not so much," he added.

Iran’s parliament has approved a measure to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, state-run Press TV reported on Sunday.

Major General Esmail Kowsari, a member of the parliament’s National Security Committee, told state media that while the parliament has reached a consensus in favor of closing the strait, the final decision rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s highest security authority.