Egypt, Saudi Arabia call for ‘favorable conditions’ to resume US-Iran dialogue to reach ‘comprehensive’ deal

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) – The foreign ministers of Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called for adhering to diplomatic channels and creating "favorable conditions" to resume dialogue between the US and Iran to reach a "comprehensive and balanced" agreement.

This came during a meeting in Riyadh between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Tehran and Washington are set to resume negotiations in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Friday to defuse rising tensions between the two countries over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The two ministers also discussed bilateral ties during the meeting, expressing their shared commitment to strengthening existing partnership frameworks, the statement said.

They also highlighted the importance of containing tension and preventing the escalation of conflict in the region, "by intensifying efforts to achieve de-escalation and prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions to crises, thus preventing the region from entering a new cycle of instability."

"The two ministers also affirmed that the nature of the challenges in the region necessitates concerted Arab efforts and continued consultation and coordination among Arab states as a fundamental pillar for protecting Arab national security in the face of regional crises," said the ministry.

Abdelatty and bin Farhan stressed the importance of implementing the second-phase commitments of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, supporting the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, swiftly deploying an international stabilization force, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid and laying the groundwork for early recovery and reconstruction.”

The top diplomats also called for continuing joint coordination and pushing for a rapid humanitarian truce in Sudan to pave the way for a comprehensive ceasefire and the launch of a political process with full Sudanese ownership.

They also stressed the necessity of preserving Sudan’s unity, the integrity of its territory, and its national institutions.

Sudan has been locked in a bloody conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions of others.