Egypt and Turkey Urge Washington and Tehran to Resume Dialogue From Baghdad

Egypt and Turkey called on the United States and Iran to return to the diplomatic track and prioritize negotiations, describing dialogue as the only viable path to end the existing crisis and halt the ongoing escalation that severely harms the interests of all regional states. The call came during a bilateral meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki. A press statement issued on Saturday, October 17, noted that discussions addressed current regional developments, notably the Iranian file. Minister Abdelatty emphasized the necessity of sustaining diplomatic endeavors, advancing political solutions, and intensifying coordination within the framework of the regional quartet mechanism to reduce tensions and enhance security and stability across the region. He also underlined Egypt's firm rejection of any compromise to the security of the Arab Gulf states or the exploitation of maritime straits and navigation corridors as instruments for geopolitical pressure and military escalation. The two ministers reviewed existing initiatives and proposals aimed at brokering an agreement capable of containing friction. They reiterated that reviving diplomatic channels and reaching mutual understandings between Washington and Tehran represent the sole approach to ending the crisis and containing an escalation detrimental to regional welfare. Regarding the situation in Yemen, the two sides discussed ongoing developments, emphasizing the critical importance of supporting national state institutions, while renewing their strong condemnation of unjustified attacks targeting the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Turning to Sudan, both ministers exchanged views on developments, with Abdelatty stressing the imperative of preserving Sudan's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and state institutions, alongside supporting initiatives aimed at securing a comprehensive political settlement that fulfills the aspirations of the Sudanese people. The meeting also addressed the Libyan file, where the Egyptian foreign minister highlighted the need to advance the political process, eliminate internal divisions, and unify national institutions. Furthermore, on Syria, Abdelatty underscored support for Syrian stability and territorial sovereignty, expressing unequivocal rejection of Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, with both ministers concluding by reaffirming the need for close coordination to bolster peace.