Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Year : 2, Issue : 9
Egypt and Iran warned Tuesday of the risks of expanding the conflict in the Middle East amid an Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment (HLS) of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
“Egypt is deeply worried about the expansion of the conflict in the region, which portends serious consequences for the security and stability of a number of Arab countries,” an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement quoted Shoukry as saying during the meeting.
The top diplomat also expressed his country’s concern over military tensions in the Red Sea, “which pose a serious threat to international shipping traffic and cause direct harm to the interests of a large number of countries, including Egypt.”
Yemen’s Houthi group has been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.
The Egyptian and Iranian ministers discussed efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and allow the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, the statement said.
They reiterated their categorical rejection of any plots to displace Palestinians from their lands and liquidate their cause, according to the statement.
Egypt, along with Qatar and the US, is mediating between Hamas and Israel to put an end to a deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.
Source: Anadolu Agency
