Cairo urges ‘compromises’ in resolving Tehran-Washington disputes

CAIRO

Egypt’s foreign minister has called for “compromises” to resolve outstanding issues between Tehran and Washington during separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an official statement said Friday.

Badr Abdelatty held “two separate calls” on Thursday with top Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, to discuss developments in the latest round of negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a statement by Egypt's Foreign Ministry.

The calls came under directives from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to work toward de-escalation and reducing regional tensions, the statement said.

Abdelatty talked to both officials about the course and substance of the Geneva talks, the ministry said.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s “firm position supporting diplomatic efforts to settle outstanding issues,” stressing the need to continue negotiations and avoid escalation in the region.

The minister emphasized “the importance of resolving pending disputes and all concerns in the negotiations between the US and Iran and reaching compromises, away from military solutions and their grave consequences,” the statement said.

Araghchi and Grossi expressed appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to reduce tensions and affirmed their commitment to continued coordination and consultation aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Iranian nuclear file and achieving regional stability, the ministry added.

In his call with Abdelatty, Araghchi said Iran urges the US to abandon the “excessive” demands to reach an agreement.

Araghchi said the success of the process requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoiding miscalculations or excessive ambitions, according to Iran’s news agency IRNA.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi announced on Thursday, after facilitating talks in Geneva, that the US and Iran agreed to hold technical discussions next week.

Talks between Tehran and Washington resumed on Thursday in Geneva at a building affiliated with the Omani Embassy.

The second round of negotiations took place on Feb. 18, after Oman hosted the first round on Feb. 6. Earlier, the talks had stalled following Israeli and US attacks on Iran in June 2025.

The US has demanded that Iran halt all uranium enrichment activities, transfer enriched uranium abroad, and abandon its ballistic missile program. Washington has also warned it could use military force.

In recent weeks, Washington, with encouragement from Israel, has reinforced its military presence in the Middle East and signaled the possibility of military action to compel Iran to abandon its nuclear and missile programs and its regional allies.

Iran maintains that the US and Israel fabricate pretexts to interfere in its affairs and pursue regime change. Tehran has vowed to respond to any military attack, even a limited one, while insisting on the lifting of Western economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

* Writing by Lina Altawell in Istanbul.