Egypt FM pushes diplomacy to de-escalate Middle East tensions - Foreign Affairs
Abdelatty spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.
The discussions focused on advancing peaceful solutions to regional crises, including the need to resume stalled talks over Iran's nuclear programme. Abdelatty stressed that there is no military solution to the ongoing disputes and underscored the importance of de-escalation and diplomacy, particularly between Iran and Israel.
The calls come amid renewed uncertainty around nuclear negotiations. On Monday, Iran stated it had 'no specific date' set for a meeting with the US regarding its nuclear programme, following its conflict with Israel that derailed previous talks.
'For now, no specific date, time or location has been determined,' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said of a possible meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff.
On Saturday, Iran said it was reviewing conditions for resuming talks, while insisting on its right to enrich uranium. Tehran began enriching uranium to 60 percent in 2021—well above the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal, but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material.
On Gaza
Abdelatty also discussed Gaza with Witkoff, reiterating Egypt's push for a comprehensive ceasefire and a captive-prisoner exchange to allow for urgent humanitarian aid access to the war-devastated enclave. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was working toward a 60-day ceasefire in the Strip.
Egypt is currently hosting delegations from Egypt, Qatar, and Israel for two days of talks in Cairo, focused on delivering aid and advancing ceasefire efforts. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed last week in Doha, though core disagreements persist.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of proposals to establish a 'humanitarian city' in southern Gaza or make any demographic changes to the occupied Palestinian territories.
He also presented Cairo's proposal to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction, aligned with the Arab-Islamic plan for rebuilding Gaza after a ceasefire is secured.
Witkoff praised Egypt's role under President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in promoting regional security and described Egypt as a key US strategic partner.
Egypt, alongside Qatar and the US, remains a lead mediator in the war, now in its 21st month.
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