Iran calls for OIC meeting after New Zealand attacks

TEHRAN

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called for holding an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), following a deadly attack on two mosques in New Zealand that killed dozens.

The call came during a phone call between Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu as Turkey currently holds the rotating OIC presidency.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Zarif called for "appropriate reaction of Muslim states to this heinous crime".

At least 49 Muslims were killed when a gunman opened fire on worshippers during the weekly Friday prayers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand.

Four suspects -- three men and one woman -- have been detained. One suspected has been reportedly released.

The top Iranian diplomat also called for discussing recent Israeli assaults on worshippers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the OIC emergency meeting.

On Tuesday, Israeli police shut the Al-Aqsa compound on claims of an arson attack on an Israeli police station near the site, triggering clashes with angry Palestinians, which injured at least 16 Palestinians.

TEHRAN

The call came during a phone call between Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu as Turkey currently holds the rotating OIC presidency.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Zarif called for "appropriate reaction of Muslim states to this heinous crime".

At least 49 Muslims were killed when a gunman opened fire on worshippers during the weekly Friday prayers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand.

Four suspects -- three men and one woman -- have been detained. One suspected has been reportedly released.

The top Iranian diplomat also called for discussing recent Israeli assaults on worshippers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the OIC emergency meeting.