Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held high-level discussions with his Omani counterpart and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Iranian nuclear file, following a new round of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
In a telephone call on Friday evening, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi briefed Abdelatty on the progress of talks held in Muscat. Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf stated that Abdelatty expressed appreciation for Oman’s “constructive role” in hosting the dialogue, while Al-Busaidi commended Egypt’s recent diplomatic efforts to bridge viewpoints between the parties.
Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt will continue to support all efforts to reach a “consensual settlement” that addresses the concerns of all sides. He stressed the importance of building on the results of the Oman negotiations to ensure regional stability and prevent the Middle East from “sliding into new waves of instability.”
The diplomatic outreach continued on Saturday with a call between Abdelatty and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. The Egyptian minister emphasised the need for continued international and regional efforts to lower tensions and prioritise diplomatic solutions. He noted that Egypt remains committed to intensive contacts to reach settlements that bolster regional and international security.
The talks in Muscat represent the first indirect engagement between the United States and Iran since US-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian sites last June. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Both sides reportedly described the atmosphere as “positive,” with plans to resume discussions after consultations in their respective capitals.
Iran is seeking an agreement that would lead to the lifting of Western sanctions, which have caused significant damage to its economy and contributed to widespread protests last month over deteriorating living conditions.
The recent diplomatic activity follows a January call between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Sisi expressed “deep concern” over regional escalation and stated that diplomacy is the “only and ideal way” to resolve the crisis. He reiterated Egypt’s goal of bringing both nations back to the negotiating table to achieve a comprehensive, peaceful settlement.
