Cairo called for the resumption of negotiations between the United States and Iran based on the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, warning against a wider regional confrontation and the impact of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz on international shipping, trade and energy supplies.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate calls on Saturday with his counterparts from Oman, Bahrain, and Mali to discuss regional tensions and developments in the Sahel, the foreign ministry said in separate statements.
In a call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Abdelatty said priority should be given to halting the escalation and avoiding steps that could further inflame regional tensions.
He called for diplomatic efforts to be given room to address the causes of the crisis and said Washington and Tehran should return to negotiations under the Islamabad memorandum and use it as a framework for resolving outstanding issues through dialogue.
The two ministers also discussed developments in the Strait of Hormuz and their implications for regional security and the global economy, stressing the need to safeguard maritime navigation and maintain the flow of trade and energy supplies.
In a separate call with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s solidarity with Bahrain in the face of threats to its security, sovereignty or territorial integrity.
He said the security of Bahrain and other Gulf states was an integral part of Egyptian national security and called for steps to prevent the current confrontation from widening and to create conditions for a return to political and diplomatic channels.
Abdelatty also spoke with Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop about developments in the Sahel and efforts to combat terrorism.
He said Cairo supported counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa and the Sahel but called for a comprehensive approach combining security measures with development.
The Egyptian and Malian ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral coordination on efforts to promote security, stability and development in Africa.
