Egypt, Iran Discuss Gaza Situation, Restoring Ties

The Egyptian and Iranian presidents during their talks in Riyadh on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit. (Egyptian presidency) 
The Egyptian and Iranian presidents during their talks in Riyadh on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit. (Egyptian presidency) 
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Egypt, Iran Discuss Gaza Situation, Restoring Ties

The Egyptian and Iranian presidents during their talks in Riyadh on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit. (Egyptian presidency) 
The Egyptian and Iranian presidents during their talks in Riyadh on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit. (Egyptian presidency) 

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed on Saturday the latest developments pertaining to the Gaza war and the restoration of ties between the two countries.
Raisi congratulated Sisi on his recent re-election and they discussed the developments in Gaza in their first telephone call, according to the Egyptian presidency spokesperson.
They further followed up on outstanding issues between the two countries.
The presidents agreed to take tangible steps for the final resolution of issues between the two countries, added the political deputy of the Iranian President's Office.
Iranian Tasnim news agency quoted the political deputy as saying that the two officials discussed the latest developments in Palestine and stressed the importance of Islamic unity.
This month, Sisi was reelected for a new six-year presidential term.

The two presidents met for the first time in Nov. on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh. Iran and Egypt ended diplomatic relations in 1979. Ties were resumed 11 years later but on the level of the Chargé d'Affairs.
Several meetings were held in the past months between Egyptian and Iranian ministers to discuss the possibility of developing bilateral ties.



UN Envoy: Situation in Syria ‘Dangerous’ and Threatens ISIS Resurgence

FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
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UN Envoy: Situation in Syria ‘Dangerous’ and Threatens ISIS Resurgence

FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa

Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, warned on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is extremely fluid and dangerous, as a vast swathe of territory has come under the control of non-state actors.

At a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the country, Pedersen also cautioned that developments may lead to the resurgence of ISIS.

“Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and armed opposition groups are gaining ground, advancing very close to Hama – a major city of some 1 million people,” he said.

In addition, the envoy warned of the potential for conflict on other axes in Syria, adding that further military escalation risks mass displacement and civilian casualties.

“I appeal to all parties to their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and allow safe passage for Syrians fleeing violence,” Pedersen told the Council.

He then urged deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process to avoid a deepening of the crisis that threatens the territorial integrity and safety of Syria.

“If we do not see deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process, involving the Syrian parties and the key international players, then I fear we will see a deepening of the crisis,” he said.

Pederson then revealed that he will return to the region “soon,” and he expressed his readiness to use his good offices to convene international and Syria stakeholders in new and comprehensive peace talks on Syria.

The envoy asked that deescalation be accompanied by a credible political horizon for the Syrian people

Over the past few days, armed factions in northwestern Syria led by the HTS launched a military assault against pro-Assad forces, seizing Aleppo and Idlib. They continue to advance towards the city of Hama.