13 national delegations walked out of the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in protest against a speech delivered by Israeli President Isaac Herzog

 Iran and 12 Other Delegations Walk Out of CICA Summit During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Speech.


BAKU, Azerbaijan  October 15, 2026 Iran and 12 other national delegations walked out of the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in protest against a speech delivered by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The walkout occurred on Thursday as Herzog began addressing the international gathering, with representatives from several Middle Eastern and Asian countries leaving the conference hall in a coordinated diplomatic protest.

According to reports, the delegations involved included those from Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The reported walkout involved 13 delegations out of the 28 participating in the summit, highlighting the divisions surrounding Israel's participation in an international forum focused on regional cooperation and confidence-building.

Iran Calls for Israel's Expulsion from CICA

Iran's delegation was led by Kazem Gharibabadi, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs.

Following the walkout, Gharibabadi called on CICA member states to expel Israel from the organisation, arguing that its actions were incompatible with the forum's objectives of promoting peace, security and cooperation across Asia.

The Iranian official described Israel as a major source of insecurity and instability in the region and urged participating countries not to remain silent over what Tehran considers Israeli violations and military aggression.

Iran has repeatedly criticised Israel over its military operations and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Gaza. Tehran's position is that international institutions should take stronger measures against Israel over its conduct in the region.

The walkout provided a visible demonstration of opposition to Herzog's presence at the summit, although the participating countries may have different diplomatic positions and reasons for their actions.

Countries Including Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Join the Protest

The reported participation of delegations from Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Iraq and Egypt gave the protest significant regional visibility.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, and members of his delegation were among those seen leaving the hall as Herzog began speaking.

Representatives from Kuwait and other participating countries were also reported to have joined the walkout.

The presence of delegations from countries with differing diplomatic relationships with Israel underscored the political sensitivities surrounding the Israeli president's appearance at a gathering intended to encourage dialogue among Asian nations.

Herzog Defends Cooperation and Rejects Boycotts.

Despite the walkout, Herzog proceeded with his address at the summit.

During his speech, the Israeli president called for greater cooperation between Israel and other Asian countries, arguing that regional engagement remained important despite political disagreements.

Herzog also criticised the use of boycotts, stating that peace could not exist alongside terrorism and that cooperation could not thrive under a policy of boycotts.

The Israeli president's presence at the summit also reflected Azerbaijan's diplomatic position. Azerbaijan maintains relations with Israel while continuing to engage with other countries in the region, including Türkiye and Iran.

CICA Summit Highlights Divisions Over Regional Security.

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia was established as a platform for promoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building among Asian countries.

Proposed in 1992 by former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, CICA seeks to encourage cooperation on security and other regional challenges through diplomatic engagement.

The seventh summit in Baku was therefore an important gathering for regional diplomacy. However, the walkout demonstrated how disagreements over Israel and the wider Middle East conflict continue to affect international relations beyond the immediate conflict zone.

For Iran and other governments critical of Israel, allowing the Israeli president to address the gathering without a strong response risked undermining their objections to Israeli policies.

For countries advocating continued diplomatic engagement, international forums such as CICA offer opportunities to maintain dialogue despite serious disagreements.

The incident exposed the challenge of reconciling these competing approaches within a multilateral organisation designed to encourage cooperation.

A Wider Pattern of Diplomatic Protests.

The Baku walkout followed another highly visible diplomatic protest at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2026, when delegations from numerous countries reportedly walked out or left their seats vacant as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began addressing the assembly.

Both incidents demonstrate how speeches by senior Israeli officials have become occasions for diplomatic demonstrations by countries opposed to Israel's conduct in the region.

The protests have taken place amid continuing international discussion of genocide over the war in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians and the broader security consequences of the conflict.

The departure of some delegations during Isaac Herzog's address at the seventh CICA summit in Baku has drawn attention to the continuing diplomatic divisions surrounding Israel's role in regional and international affairs.

With countries including Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Iraq, Iran and Egypt among those named in reports of the protest, the incident highlighted the extent to which disagreements over Israel continue to influence relations across Asia and the Middle East.


Iran's call for Israel's expulsion from CICA added another dimension to the confrontation, turning the walkout into more than a symbolic objection to a speech.

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