Egypt, Qatar urge diplomatic push to contain regional tensions, prevent wider conflict

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday stressed the need to contain escalating regional tensions and prevent the conflict from widening, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministers discussed the latest regional developments during a phone call as part of ongoing coordination between the two Arab states, emphasizing the importance of dialogue to avert further escalation.

The two diplomats urged all parties to prioritize diplomacy and return to negotiations aimed at implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran. Reaching a final agreement would help reduce tensions and strengthen regional security and stability, the ministry added.

Condemnation of Attacks

Abdelatty renewed Egypt's condemnation of recent strikes targeting several Gulf states and Jordan, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of those countries. The statement came amid renewed hostilities between Iran and the United States, with Tehran launching a series of attacks Thursday on American military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan.

US-Iran Memorandum

The Iranian strikes served as retaliation for a second day of overnight US attacks following Iranian operations against three commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Last month, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their military conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement.