Morocco Suspends Flights until Jan. 31

A man waits to receive the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination center in Sale, Morocco October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat
A man waits to receive the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination center in Sale, Morocco October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat
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Morocco Suspends Flights until Jan. 31

A man waits to receive the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination center in Sale, Morocco October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat
A man waits to receive the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination center in Sale, Morocco October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat

The Moroccan government has extended the suspension of commercial flights to and from the North African country until January 31.

The decision comes amid concerns over the fast-spreading of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The National Office of Airports (ONDA) announced that “the suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31, 2022.”

Rabat imposed the measure to run initially from late November until December 31.

Morocco ended Thursday the repatriation of its nationals stranded abroad from Portugal, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

In the same context, the government on Monday banned all New Year’s Eve parties and reinstated a nighttime curfew, as part of the kingdom’s preventive measures aimed at fighting the pandemic.

These measures could increase the losses of the tourism sector, knowing that Morocco is usually a destination for European tourists on New Year’s Eve.

The Moroccan Ministry of Health reported that the number of confirmed cases in the country exceeded 954,000 and the total deaths reached 14,823.



Egypt Stresses Importance of Resuming Iran Nuclear Talks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, Egypt, June 2, 2025. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, Egypt, June 2, 2025. (EPA)
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Egypt Stresses Importance of Resuming Iran Nuclear Talks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, Egypt, June 2, 2025. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, Egypt, June 2, 2025. (EPA)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a series of high-level talks with key international stakeholders on Wednesday as Egypt continues to intensify diplomatic efforts toward regional de-escalation.

Cairo also stressed the need to establish a comprehensive ceasefire between Iran and Israel and resuming negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program.

On Wednesday, Abdelatty spoke separately with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, US Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi.

During the discussions, Abdelatty stressed the importance of pursuing peaceful solutions and resuming negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast position that military options are not viable, neither for this matter nor for other crises undermining regional stability.

The talks also included an exchange of views on mechanisms to de-escalate tensions and establish a comprehensive ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
They stressed the need to prevent the resumption of hostilities and reinforce a political, peaceful solution to the conflict.

Late last month, in a call with Grossi, Egypt’s Foreign Minister urged the need to prioritize diplomatic solutions for the Iranian nuclear program to achieve calm, reduce tensions and bring about regional security and stability.

In return, the IAEA chief noted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s firm support for reaching a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear program, backing the non-proliferation system, and establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.