CAIRO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said discussed regional developments, particularly in Iran and Gaza, during a phone conversation on Sunday.
Sisi emphasized the need to halt the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran, warning of the grave consequences of the widening conflict in the region, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
He called for a return to the negotiating table to prevent further bloodshed, praising Oman's role in mediating between Iran and the United States.
Sisi also stressed the importance of restoring and strengthening the negotiating process to spare the region the scourge of war.
For his part, the sultan of Oman praised Egypt's efforts to stop the violence and affirmed his country's commitment to joint action in this regard, according to the statement.
Both sides underscored the priority of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of its population amid "Israeli aggression."
They also reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state remains the fundamental guarantee for lasting stability in the Middle East.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States had carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The strikes came as Israel, since June 13, has launched major airstrikes on various targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and many civilians.
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel. As of Saturday, more than 400 Iranians have been killed and over 3,500 wounded, according to Iran's Health Ministry. In Israel, the death toll stands at 24, according to local authorities. ■
