Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty discussed developments in the Muscat negotiations with his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi, Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. He expressed hope that they would lead to calm in the region, including a swift and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

This came in a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Sunday, the day after the Sultanate of Oman hosted the first round of negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry reported that Abdel Aati discussed, during a phone call, "the negotiations that took place between the United States and Iran in Muscat."

According to the Egyptian statement, "Abdel-Ati was briefed on the latest developments regarding the progress of the negotiations, and in this context, he appreciated the constructive and vital role played by the Sultanate of Oman in the mediation process."

The Egyptian Foreign Minister reiterated his country's full support for all efforts "aimed at reaching political solutions through dialogue and negotiation and enhancing security and stability in the region."

In his communications, Abdel-Ati also expressed "Egypt's appreciation for the cooperative approach demonstrated by both the US and Iran to reach a political settlement through promoting dialogue and negotiation, thus paving the way for solutions that contribute to reducing tensions in the region."

The Egyptian minister expressed his hope that "these negotiations will usher in a new phase that will contribute to achieving calm and reducing tensions in the region, and he looks forward to quickly reaching a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip."

With full American support, Israel has continued its genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 167,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them women and children, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons.

On Saturday evening, the United States and Iran concluded the first round of indirect talks held in Oman, with an agreement to hold a second round next week.

The two countries said, in official statements and declarations, that Saturday's talks on the nuclear issue and lifting sanctions "took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere."

The United States, along with Israel and other countries, accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation.