Egypt has expressed concern that a renewed escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran could have more devastating consequences, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warning that another round of fighting would be more dangerous and destructive.
Speaking on Saturday at the IISS Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain, Abdelatty said he was "extremely worried" about the possibility of renewed hostilities and their wider implications.
"The second round will be more dangerous, more destructive, and it will lead to nowhere. We have to draw lessons from the past," he said.
An interim agreement reached in June failed to deliver a lasting ceasefire or restore normal shipping operations through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has since proposed that Washington lift its blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Tehran reopening the disrupted waterway within seven days.
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday in renewed efforts to broker an agreement. However, Washington and Tehran remain divided over the sequencing of negotiations, particularly whether nuclear discussions or relief from the blockade and oil sanctions should take priority.
The uncertainty surrounding the conflict continues to raise concerns about regional security, international trade and energy supplies.
Source: Reuters
Reporting: Timour Azhari
Writing: Tala Ramadan & Yasmine Ghania
Editing: Susan Fenton
