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Egypt, Iran Agree to Continue Consultations on Normalizing Relations

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet in Banjul (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet in Banjul (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, Iran Agree to Continue Consultations on Normalizing Relations

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet in Banjul (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet in Banjul (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, met on Saturday on the sidelines of the 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul, where they discussed bilateral relations and the war in Gaza.

Shoukry and Abdollahian agreed to “continue consultations to address all outstanding topics and issues toward normalizing relations,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting also touched on the Egyptian-Iranian bilateral relations in light of previous meetings between the two ministers and the directives of the leadership of both countries.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, last November on the sidelines of the Arab–Islamic extraordinary summit hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Since then, telephone contacts between the two sides have multiplied, both at the presidential and ministerial levels. They mostly focused on “the situation in the Gaza Strip, and fears of escalation of regional tension,” according to official statements from both sides.

“Developments in the region necessitate meetings between Egypt and Iran to follow up on decisions taken in previous summits, especially with regard to bilateral relations,” Ali el-Hefny, Egypt's former ambassador to China and former deputy foreign minister, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, Shoukry and Abdollahian’s meeting on Saturday addressed key issues of the Islamic Summit agenda. “The two ministers agreed on the importance of bolstering unity among Islamic countries amid immense challenges,” the spokesman said.

The ministers also discussed the ongoing war in Gaza. Shoukry was keen to inform his Iranian counterpart of the Egyptian efforts aimed at reaching a truce in the Palestinian enclave that would allow the exchange of hostages and detainees to reach a full and permanent ceasefire.

The two men then stressed their rejection of any ground military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that would “put the lives of more than a million Palestinians at imminent danger and would worsen the humanitarian situation in the strip.”

Iran and Egypt ended diplomatic relations in 1979. Ties were resumed 11 years later but on the level of Chargé d'Affaires.

Several meetings were held in the past months between Egyptian and Iranian ministers to discuss the possibility of developing bilateral ties.

Last May, the Iranian President directed the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary measures to enhance relations with Egypt.

On Saturday, Shoukry briefed his Iranian counterpart on the outcome of meetings he held recently on the sidelines the World Economic Forum, and contacts he made with European officials to resolve the crisis in Gaza.

He stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while calling for continued entry of urgent humanitarian aid “completely, safely, and without obstacles.”

The Egyptian minister also affirmed the importance of encouraging countries to recognize a Palestinian state, adding that this would contribute to strengthening efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.

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Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
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Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is advocating the formation of a government of “consensus” that includes representatives from all political factions.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has requested that parliamentary blocs submit non-partisan nominees for ministerial positions, emphasizing that they must not belong to any political party.

Aoun stressed on Tuesday that all components of society have the right to be represented in the government, parliament and public administration, as this is already practiced in the army.

“We have significant opportunities that we hope to seize by uniting all elements of Lebanese society—civil, spiritual, and political. Together, we can rebuild our nation,” he declared.

Highlighting the importance of meeting international expectations, Aoun hoped for the rapid formation of a government to achieve political, economic, and security stability, which would allow citizens “to live with dignity, not merely in relative comfort.”

During meetings with professional delegations at the Presidential Palace, Aoun said: “We are at a crossroads. Either we take advantage of the current circumstances and rise above sectarian, religious, and political divisions, or we head in a different direction and bear full responsibility for failing to fulfill our duties.”

Negotiations between Aoun, Salam, and political factions over the formation of a government are ongoing. The discussions, which kicked off last week, have reportedly made progress, with efforts directed toward expediting the government formation process, issuing decrees, preparing a ministerial statement, and securing its vote of confidence from lawmakers.

While the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement appear to have finalized their proposed nominees for the government, disagreements over the ministerial statement remain.

MP Waddah Sadek, who is backed by the opposition, firmly rejected the inclusion of the “Army, People, Resistance” term in the statement. He declared: “No ‘blocking third’ in the government, and no unconstitutional gimmicks. The slogan of the new phase in Lebanon should be: the ‘Army, People, and State.’”

The Kataeb Party echoed this stance, stressing that Lebanon, emerging from a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, must align with the Aoun’s inaugural speech and Salam’s remarks by ensuring the ministerial statement exclusively underscores the state’s monopoly over arms and the defense of the nation.

“The government must act decisively, dismantle militias, strictly enforce the ceasefire, and uphold its provisions across all Lebanese territory,” it demanded.

The Kataeb Party also urged Aoun and Salam to resist the “great extortion” by Hezbollah and Amal to secure specific ministries or positions, in violation of the inaugural speech, calling instead for the application of uniform standards to ensure the government’s success.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah adopted a more confrontational tone.

MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, commented: “To those betting on Hezbollah’s weakness or the weakness of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, what will you say when the government is formed? What will you say when you realize the strength of Hezbollah, the alliance, and the resistance’s supporters across all segments of Lebanese society? What will you say when you see the unwavering determination and unity of the resistance at every critical juncture?”