Shoukry briefed Abdollahian on the Egyptian efforts to reach a truce “that would allow the exchange of prisoners and captives to reach a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire,” according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Egyptian, Qatari, and American officials are mediating ceasefire talks in the Egyptian capital.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday for the talks.

In recent days, mediators stepped up efforts to seal a ceasefire deal as Israel threatens to storm the border city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Shoukry reaffirmed to his Iranian counterpart Egypt’s rejection of any Israeli ground military operations in Rafah.

Israel's threatened assault on Rafah “puts the lives of more than a million Palestinians at imminent danger and would worsen the humanitarian situation in the strip,” the statement quoted Shoukry as saying during his meeting.

Shoukry stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while calling for continued entry of urgent humanitarian aid “completely, safely, and without obstacles,” the statement added.

The Egyptian top diplomat stressed the importance of encouraging countries to recognize a Palestinian state, adding that this would contribute to strengthening efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.

The two ministers agreed on the significance of bolstering unity among Islamic countries amid immense challenges.

The meeting also touched on the bilateral relations between Egypt and Iran. 

In recent months, both ministers have maintained contact and consultation amid recent thawing in relations between the two countries.

Shoukry and Abdollahian agreed to “continue consultations to address all outstanding topics and issues toward normalizing relations.”