Photo courtesy of Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs.
The remarks were made in a joint statement issued after the fourth consultative meeting of the R4 foreign ministers, held in Cairo on 21 June 2026 at the invitation of Egypt.
The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Turkey for a broad exchange of views on regional and international developments.
The ministers reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and coordination among the four countries in support of peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East and the wider region.
On recent regional developments, the ministers welcomed the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran on 18 June 2026.
They said the agreement was an important step towards de-escalation and ending a conflict that had posed significant risks to regional security and stability, as well as to energy markets, international shipping routes, and global supply chains and trade.
The ministers commended the efforts of regional and international actors that helped facilitate the understanding, stressing the importance of faithful implementation of the commitments undertaken by the parties concerned.
They lauded what they described as Pakistan’s instrumental efforts in achieving the historic outcome, as well as Qatar’s support in bringing negotiations on the MoU to a successful conclusion.
The ministers also commended Pakistan’s continued and close coordination with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey on the issue.
Building on what they described as positive momentum, the ministers stressed the importance of swiftly concluding the next phase of negotiations to reach a lasting, verifiable, and mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues.
They emphasized that such efforts should take into account the concerns of countries in the region, particularly regarding the security and stability of the Gulf Arab states and the Levant.
The ministers said this approach would help strengthen collective security and promote long-term regional stability.
The statement also reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause to achieving peace, security and stability in the Middle East, with the ministers saying it remains at the heart of efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region and a central pillar for building a stable and secure regional order, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
They devoted particular attention to the humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The ministers reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Cairo meeting came as Egypt intensified diplomatic efforts to build on the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which Cairo has described as a potential turning point for regional de-escalation.
The four-country mechanism, bringing together Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, has emerged as a key platform for coordinating positions on the aftermath of the conflict and shaping broader discussions on Middle East security.
Ahead of the fourth R4 ministerial meeting, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged the four countries to develop their consultative mechanism into a more effective institutional framework to address regional crises.
According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi said recent regional developments had highlighted the central role of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey as pillars of regional security and stability.
The Cairo meeting also followed wider Egyptian consultations on the issue. A day earlier, FM Abdelatty held talks in Cairo with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts as well as Massad Boulos, senior adviser to the US president for Arab and African affairs, on the US-Iran MoU, Gaza, Libya, and security in Africa.
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