
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L), US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (R)
According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this
occurred during a phone call between the two leaders, the second in 10 days.
The call is part of the ongoing coordination and consultation between Egypt and the United States regarding developments in the Middle East.
During the call, FM Abdelatty stressed the necessity of reaching a permanent and
comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets the aspirations of the region’s peoples for lasting peace, security, and stability.
Israel has been blocking all aid entrance to the Gaza Strip for more than two months now, putting its entire population of over two million at the risk of famine.
In addition, Israel's repeated military incursions on Gaza since 7 October 2023 have devastated the strip's infrastructure and economy, exacerbating poverty and limiting the population's access to basic services like healthcare and clean water.
Moreover, the call discussed developments in the US-Iran negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear programme.
In this respect, Egypt’s top diplomat asserted the importance of
maintaining the ongoing negotiation track to de-escalate tensions, avoid further escalation, and prevent the region from slipping into greater turmoil.
On Wednesday, the US announced the evacuation of some personnel from the Middle East, citing the region's increasing instability. This decision comes as nuclear negotiations with Iran are faltering, fueling fears of a broader regional conflict.
Tehran and Washington have been discussing salvaging a new nuclear agreement for the past five rounds of talks since April. These talks aim to replace the 2015 accord, which President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned in 2018.
On Wednesday, Iran threatened to strike American bases in the region if nuclear negotiations fail and conflict arises with the United States.
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