Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a significant strengthening of economic cooperation among Muslim-majority nations, stating that current levels of integration are insufficient. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the Iranian leader emphasized the need for a strategic shift in regional trade dynamics.
President Pezeshkian highlighted that intra-Muslim trade currently accounts for only 19 percent of total exports. He noted that this statistic indicates that more than 80 percent of exports from countries with Muslim-majority populations are directed outside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) framework. Consequently, he urged the 57 member states of the OIC to prioritize deepening trade relations and collaborative development of energy resources.
The Iranian leader underscored that these nations are strategically positioned at the crossroads of vital maritime and land trade routes, possess vast energy reserves, and benefit from a large, young demographic and extensive consumer markets. Despite existing political differences, Pezeshkian advocated for unity, asserting that no Muslim nation should seek to enhance its security at the expense of its neighbors, nor should territories be utilized for purposes detrimental to the interests of other Muslim states.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. It serves as the collective voice of the Muslim world, aiming to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
