
Jordan FM holds talks with French, Irish, Slovak counterparts on Gaza crisis, Iran tensions
AMMAN: Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi held a series of discussions on Thursday with European counterparts from France, Ireland, and Slovakia, focusing on efforts to end the escalating crises in the Middle East and revive diplomatic paths toward peace.
In Paris, Safadi met with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, with the two ministers stressing the urgent need to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Iran and resume negotiations as 'the only way to protect the region from the expansion of the war and its dangerous repercussions.'
Safadi welcomed talks planned for Friday in Geneva between France, Germany, the US, and Iran, expressing hope they would give diplomacy a chance to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Both he and Barrot also called for intensified international efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and ensure the immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid.
Safadi said the inhumane reality in Gaza, marked by massacres, starvation, and collective suffering, must end, and warned that illegal Israeli measures in the West Bank are further eroding chances of a viable two-state solution.
He reiterated Jordan's backing of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and called for international recognition of the state of Palestine, saying such a move affirms the 'inevitability' of the two-state solution as the only path to a just peace.
Safadi also praised France's 'key' role in co-leading efforts, alongside Saudi Arabia, to organize an international conference on the two-state solution, which had been postponed due to the recent Iran-Israel escalation.
The ministers also addressed the situation in Syria, highlighting the need for a unified approach that supports Syria's sovereignty, eliminates terrorism, ensures refugee return and lays the groundwork for reconstruction.
They reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon's stability and the wider humanitarian mission in Gaza.
In a separate phone call with Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, Safadi discussed similar themes, with both stressing that ending the war and resuming nuclear negotiations with Iran were essential to resolving broader regional instability.
They called for enhanced UN humanitarian access to Gaza and warned against actions in the West Bank that could jeopardize the two-state solution. Safadi thanked Ireland for its longstanding support of Palestinian statehood and rights in line with international law.
Later in the day, Safadi also held talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar. The pair echoed concerns over regional escalation and underlined the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Safadi and Blanar also explored ways to deepen ties and expand cooperation between Jordan and the EU, reaffirming a shared commitment to regional peace and security.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
Jordan FM holds talks with French, Irish, Slovak counterparts on Gaza crisis, Iran tensions
AMMAN: Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi held a series of discussions on Thursday with European counterparts from France, Ireland, and Slovakia, focusing on efforts to end the escalating crises in the Middle East and revive diplomatic paths toward peace. In Paris, Safadi met with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, with the two ministers stressing the urgent need to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Iran and resume negotiations as 'the only way to protect the region from the expansion of the war and its dangerous repercussions.' Safadi welcomed talks planned for Friday in Geneva between France, Germany, the US, and Iran, expressing hope they would give diplomacy a chance to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, the Jordan News Agency reported. Both he and Barrot also called for intensified international efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and ensure the immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid. Safadi said the inhumane reality in Gaza, marked by massacres, starvation, and collective suffering, must end, and warned that illegal Israeli measures in the West Bank are further eroding chances of a viable two-state solution. He reiterated Jordan's backing of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and called for international recognition of the state of Palestine, saying such a move affirms the 'inevitability' of the two-state solution as the only path to a just peace. Safadi also praised France's 'key' role in co-leading efforts, alongside Saudi Arabia, to organize an international conference on the two-state solution, which had been postponed due to the recent Iran-Israel escalation. The ministers also addressed the situation in Syria, highlighting the need for a unified approach that supports Syria's sovereignty, eliminates terrorism, ensures refugee return and lays the groundwork for reconstruction. They reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon's stability and the wider humanitarian mission in Gaza. In a separate phone call with Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, Safadi discussed similar themes, with both stressing that ending the war and resuming nuclear negotiations with Iran were essential to resolving broader regional instability. They called for enhanced UN humanitarian access to Gaza and warned against actions in the West Bank that could jeopardize the two-state solution. Safadi thanked Ireland for its longstanding support of Palestinian statehood and rights in line with international law. Later in the day, Safadi also held talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar. The pair echoed concerns over regional escalation and underlined the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza. Safadi and Blanar also explored ways to deepen ties and expand cooperation between Jordan and the EU, reaffirming a shared commitment to regional peace and security.


Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan's deputy PM to attend OIC meeting in Istanbul, call for Israel-Iran ceasefire
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul this weekend and call for an immediate Israel-Iran ceasefire to help restore peace in the Middle East, the foreign office said on Thursday. The 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two regional rivals, along with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting comes at a time of heightened volatility for the bloc, following Pakistan's brief but intense military standoff with India last month and Iran's escalating confrontation with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "During the plenary session, the DPM/FM will share Pakistan's perspective on the developments in South Asia following the ceasefire arrangement between Pakistan and India and the situation in the Middle East after Israel's recent aggression against Iran and other regional states," the foreign office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, said in a statement. He added that Dar would advocate for peace in the Middle East and highlight the need for humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza during the meeting on June 21 and 22. Beyond the Middle East, Dar is also expected to address broader issues of concern to the Muslim world, urging the international community to "combat the escalating tide of Islamophobia" by addressing rising extremism and militancy, as well as the growing threat of climate change. He will also reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the principles and objectives of the OIC in addressing challenges faced by Muslim nations globally. Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other OIC member states on the sidelines of the conference. According to the foreign office, he will participate in an award ceremony honoring Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the 'OIC Youth Forum Grand Youth Award.' The high-level meeting is taking place amid media reports that the United States is weighing options, including potentially joining Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks last week after Israeli forces bombed sites linked to its nuclear and military infrastructure on June 13. Tehran says more than 224 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the strikes. Israel has also reported over two dozen civilian deaths.


Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
Israel restarts limited gas exports amid ongoing conflict, Egypt still waiting
CAIRO: Israel has resumed limited natural gas exports from surplus supplies, the country's Energy Ministry said on Thursday, nearly a week after shutting down two key offshore fields as Israel and Iran waged an air battle. A ministry spokesperson told Reuters that exports are now resuming 'from surpluses, after domestic needs are met.' An energy ministry source said most of the limited exported gas is currently flowing to Jordan, and only 'tiny volumes' reached Egypt this week. Egyptian fertilizer producers, who were forced to halt operations due to the supply disruption, told Reuters they have yet to receive any gas but expect flows to resume next week. The Egyptian Petroleum Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Following military escalation in the region, Israel halted exports on June 13 after closing the Leviathan field, operated by Chevron and the Karish field operated by Energean. Only the Tamar field has remained operational, supplying mainly domestic demand. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday that exports would only resume once military authorities deemed it safe. 'I don't want to use our strategic storage, so therefore, I needed to cut exports,' he told Reuters. Egypt, which has increasingly relied on Israeli gas since a domestic production decline in 2022, is scrambling to compensate for the supply gap. The country has ramped up fuel oil use in power plants and has signed deals to import over $8 billion worth of liquefied natural gas, while preparing additional floating regasification units. Israeli gas typically accounts for up to 60 percent of Egypt's total gas imports and around a fifth of its total consumption, according to data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI).