
Egypt and Pakistan have expressed their hope for a second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States to strengthen the ceasefire, de-escalate tensions, and end the conflict. This sentiment was conveyed during a phone call on Sunday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Pakistan鈥檚 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Both officials emphasized that negotiation and dialogue are the only viable path to resolving the ongoing crisis. The call is part of continuous consultations between the two countries to monitor regional developments and coordinate joint efforts. The ministers also discussed initiatives to advance diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey have been instrumental in mediating between the United States and Iran, contributing to the acceptance of a ceasefire last week. According to The Hindu, a potential agreement began to form after intense political negotiations. Initially, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff rejected Iran鈥檚 proposal. Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey intervened, introducing revisions to bridge differences, leading to the acceptance of a revised two-week ceasefire proposal by both parties before the U.S. administration's deadline.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.
Must ReadThe European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council have called on Iran to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without conditions or transit fees. In a joint statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the GCC presidency condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strait and on the sovereign territories of regional countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. They stated these attacks endangered civilians and seafarers, violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and were unjustifiable. Renewed fighting between the US and Iran has significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas shipping route, with Iran repeatedly attacking commercial vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guards previously stated that no oil or gas would be exported through the strait as long as US attacks continued.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that repeated US violations of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and US presidents demonstrate the US president's signature is "worthless" and "lacked credibility." According to Iran鈥檚 official news agency IRNA, Khamenei accused the United States of arrogance, unilateralism, and brutality, describing these as inherent to the American approach. He referred to Washington as "the great satan" for its breaches of commitments under the MoU. Khamenei condemned the US for what he termed "disregard for reason, utter untrustworthiness, and malicious intent." He warned that the Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have "unforgettable lessons" for Washington as the US seeks to "ignite war." He cited the courage of Iranian fighters and residents in the southern region as examples of these lessons. Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Last week, US President Donald Trump suggested Mojtaba Khamenei was likely deceased.
Must ReadNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated his administration is exploring options to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city for the UN General Assembly in September. Speaking on The Interview, a New York Times podcast, Mayor Mamdani expressed his belief that Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague," referencing the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza. Mamdani acknowledged that it is unclear if he, as mayor, possesses the legal authority to direct the New York Police Department to detain a visiting foreign leader. He indicated his administration is in "an active conversation" with the city's Law Department regarding the matter, adding, "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that鈥檚 what we will do, but we won鈥檛 be writing our own laws to that end."