Egypt's FM, IAEA Chief Discuss Nuclear Cooperation and Regional Security

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi in El Alamein on Thursday to discuss nuclear cooperation and regional developments, on the sidelines of Grossi's visit to attend the installation ceremony of the reactor pressure vessel for the second unit of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.

Abdelatty praised the close partnership between Egypt and the IAEA, describing Grossi's participation in the ceremony as a reflection of the strong cooperation supporting Egypt's peaceful nuclear programme under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

He stressed that the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is a strategic national project that will diversify Egypt's energy mix, expand the use of clean energy and contribute to the country's sustainable development goals.

The foreign minister also expressed appreciation for the IAEA's technical assistance through its cooperation programmes, which support the development of Egypt's peaceful nuclear sector, including the El Dabaa project, research reactors, institutional capacity building and the training of national specialists.

Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for the IAEA's role in implementing safeguards under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), highlighting the importance of strengthening the treaty as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The meeting also addressed regional developments, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt's diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and encourage political solutions to regional crises. He stressed the importance of building on the recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding to revive meaningful negotiations and support a sustainable diplomatic settlement.

For his part, Grossi praised the longstanding partnership between Egypt and the IAEA and commended the progress achieved in the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, describing it as one of Africa's largest peaceful nuclear energy projects. He also praised Egypt's efforts to promote regional security and de-escalation through diplomatic engagement.