CAIRO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday stressed the importance of continued efforts to prevent a further escalation in the region during a phone call with U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff.
During the call, Abdelatty emphasized that political and diplomatic solutions remain the only viable path to achieving regional security and stability, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.
He called for intensified international and regional efforts to contain the region's ongoing crises and support de-escalation initiatives, saying such efforts would help create favorable conditions for the resumption of dialogue and address the root causes of conflicts.
On the same day, Abdelatty held separate phone talks with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait to discuss regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The U.S. military launched multiple waves of strikes on Iran last month, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping." Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Also on Sunday, Abdelatty discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and efforts to advance the implementation of the U.S.-proposed peace plan for the enclave during a phone call with Nickolay Mladenov, "high representative for Gaza" of the U.S.-led "Board of Peace."
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the "Board of Peace" had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim said Friday that Hamas agreed to the "latest version of the roadmap" for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement after "fierce" negotiations, but conditioned weaponry arrangements on Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and progress on reconstruction. ■
