Egyptian FM holds phone talks with Iranian FM, U.S. envoy on regional developments, de-escalation

CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday made separate phones talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on the recent regional developments amid the escalated tensions.

Abdelatty stressed the necessity to intensify efforts to reduce escalation and ease tensions, working to prevent the region from sliding into new cycles of instability, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of prioritizing diplomatic channels to reach sustainable political solutions that support regional security and stability.

He also emphasized the importance of creating the necessary conditions to resume dialogue between the United States and Iran, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement to support security and stability at both the regional and international levels.

Neither the Iranian side nor the U.S. side has issued any official statement regarding the phone talks.

The phone talks came amid the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group's reported arrival in the Middle East, and Trump's announcement of an additional "armada" of U.S. military vessels sailing towards Iran. Iran has warned of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing" response to any aggression. ■