The world’s largest Islamic organization agreed Monday to suspend Syria over its government’s 17-month-long bloody crackdown on antigovernment rebels.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference's decision is seen as a move to further pressure and isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Iran is objecting to the OIC’s decision and intervention by the outside world in the fighting in Syria, saying suspending its membership will not help quell the violence.