Egypt FM pushes for Middle East de-escalation in talks with Qatar and Iraq

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held talks with his Qatari and Iraqi counterparts on Tuesday, urging intensified diplomatic efforts and flexibility to prevent the Middle East from slipping into a broader military confrontation.

In a phone call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the two top diplomats agreed to coordinate intensively with relevant parties to allow sufficient time for negotiations and avoid further security deterioration, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Ambassador Nader Zaki.

The ministers stressed the importance of prioritising dialogue and consulting with international partners to restore calm.

The push for regional de-escalation continued in a separate call with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, during which Abdelatty warned of the severe consequences of any new military action.

Abdelatty emphasised the necessity of allowing space for diplomatic tracks to address existing crises, sparing regional states the fallout of potential military confrontations. He affirmed Cairo’s commitment to coordinating closely with Baghdad to preserve regional stability and maintain the safety and freedom of navigation in international maritime corridors.

The Egyptian and Iraqi ministers also reviewed the outcomes of Abdelatty’s visit to Baghdad on Oct. 17 and 18, alongside ongoing preparations for the fourth session of the Egyptian-Iraqi Supreme Joint Committee.

Abdelatty expressed hope that the committee’s results would increase economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and expand the participation of Egyptian companies in Iraq’s development and reconstruction projects.