Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Iranian counterpart, Amir Abdullahian, recently met on the sidelines of the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Banjul, The Gambia to discuss normalizing relations between their countries. During the meeting, Shukri and Abdullahian agreed to continue bilateral consultations to address all outstanding issues and topics between them.
According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the ministers discussed previous contacts and meetings between them as well as their respective country’s leadership directives. They also emphasized the importance of solidarity and unity among Islamic countries during a time when the Islamic world faces significant challenges.
The ongoing war in Gaza Strip was a major topic of discussion during the meeting. Shukri briefed his Iranian counterpart on Egyptian efforts to reach a truce that would allow for prisoner exchange and permanent ceasefire. Both ministers expressed complete rejection of Israel’s ground military operations in Rafah, stating that it would endanger over a million Palestinian lives and worsen the humanitarian situation in the Strip.
Overall, the meeting highlighted both Egypt and Iran’s commitment to strengthening ties and working together to address critical issues facing the Islamic world today.
