Shia Muslim Foundation calls for immediate ceasefire and urgent return to diplomacy after United States strikes on Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, DC - February 28, 2026) The Shia Muslim Foundation calls for an immediate ceasefire following the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran and the retaliatory attacks that followed. The current trajectory risks rapid regional escalation, civilian casualties, and long term destabilization.

World leaders have resoundingly called for a return to peace.

"I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table," he said. "I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter."

"We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement, adding that they wanted a resumption of negotiations.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide rejected the legal framing of a preventive strike and warned against a wider war. (Reuters) Oman publicly lamented the collapse of talks it had been facilitating, underscoring the cost of abandoning diplomacy. (Reuters) Russia condemned the strikes as armed aggression and called for an immediate end to the military campaign. (AP News)

“The region does not need another open ended conflict,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “The Shia Muslim Foundation calls for an immediate ceasefire, rapid diplomatic engagement through the United Nations, and sustained negotiations to prevent more loss of life."

The Shia Muslim Foundation urges:

1. An immediate ceasefire and halt to all further strikes and reprisals

2. An urgent United Nations Security Council session focused on de escalation, civilian protection, and a diplomatic off ramp

3. Public commitments from all parties to comply with international law and protect civilians, including critical infrastructure

4. Renewed diplomacy with credible intermediaries, including states that have already worked to host negotiations

The Shia Muslim Foundation also calls on United States policymakers to prioritize restraint and diplomacy. Military escalation will predictably trigger retaliation, broaden the battlefield, and place civilians across the region at heightened risk.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a Washington, DC based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to support the civic rights of American Shia Muslims and advocate on issues affecting Shia communities worldwide.

Media Contact

Farhana Kassamali

farhana@shiamuslimfoundation.com