Egyptian-Iranian FMs Discuss Gaza Crisis

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call on Sunday, March 31, from Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, as stated by Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson and Director of Public Diplomacy at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

During the call, which followed a meeting between the ministers in Geneva last month, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry mentioned that discussions covered the trajectory of Egyptian-Iranian relations. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to principles of mutual respect, good neighborliness, and working towards the interests of the Egyptian and Iranian peoples, as well as supporting regional stability.

The conversation extensively addressed the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip amid continuing Israeli assaults and the dire humanitarian conditions facing the Palestinian people there. An agreement was reached on the utmost priority of ceasing fire and ending the ongoing war in Gaza. There was also a consensus on the necessity for Israel to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2720 and 2728. The ministers voiced their rejection of any scenarios targeting the displacement of Palestinians out of Gaza and opposed any ground military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah. Both sides agreed on the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza unimpeded and that Israel removes obstacles hindering this process, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions.

Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid added that Foreign Minister Shoukry expressed Egypt's deep concern over the widening scope of conflict in the region, particularly in the South Red Sea area, highlighting its severe implications for maritime navigation and the flow of international trade through this vital international waterway. Shoukry warned of the grave consequences such developments could have on regional stability and international peace and security, emphasizing that the escalation negatively affects regional and international efforts to resolve the crisis.

At the end of the call, the ministers agreed to continue consultations on the course of bilateral relations between the two countries in the coming period, aiming to return them to their normal state. They also planned to discuss ways to resolve the crisis in the Gaza Strip and address associated challenges.