Egypt foreign minister discusses outcomes of US-Iran talks with US, Pakistan officials

Ahram Online , Sunday 12 Apr 2026

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone discussions on Sunday with American and Pakistani officials following the conclusion of landmark direct talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad without a deal.

In phone calls with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Abdelatty discussed the outcomes of the negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Pakistani official provided an overview of the Islamabad talks, while Witkoff briefed Abdelatty on the US stance, according to a statement from Egypt’s foreign ministry.

In his conversation with Witkoff, Minister Abdelatty stressed the importance of adhering to the diplomatic track and prioritizing dialogue and peaceful solutions to reach a consensus on all outstanding concerns, thereby preserving regional security and stability.

According to the statement, Witkoff commended the level of coordination with Egypt, praising the existing cooperation and Egypt's efforts in supporting security and stability in the Middle East.

He also expressed the US's reliance on Cairo's continued efforts in this regard.

Dar praised coordination between Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey, the trilateral grouping that helped broker a two-week ceasefire last week, and stressed their shared commitment to pursuing a diplomatic resolution.

Abdelatty, for his part, welcomed Pakistan’s efforts and its role in hosting the US-Iran talks.

Both sides underscored the importance of dialogue and peaceful solutions to maintain regional security and stability.

They also agreed to maintain close coordination and step up efforts to de-escalate tensions and sustain the ceasefire, the statement pointed out.

The Islamabad talks, the first direct engagement between the two countries at this level since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, have ended without a deal, according to officials from both nations.

Sticking points included Iran’s nuclear program, Israel's ongoing war on Lebanon, and the Strait of Hormuz control.

Iran has allowed only "non-hostile" vessels to pass since the war began on 28 February. The de facto blockade of the waterway, through which one-fifth of global crude oil supplies pass, has caused a global energy crisis and rattled stock markets globally.