Baghdad: Foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan convened in the Jordanian capital to discuss efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions. This marks the fifth meeting of its kind since last March, as confirmed by a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting focused on Jerusalem.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the recent regional developments amidst ongoing military escalations. The primary focus was on efforts to reduce tensions, particularly concerning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The foreign ministers underscored the critical importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting its fundamental role in ensuring global economic stability and the security of international trade. They also emphasized the necessity of revisiting the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, signed on June 18, to support a sustainable agreement that strengthens regional security and prevents further escalation.

The discussions further reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, stressing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the end of the occupation as vital steps toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace. These goals, they noted, should remain a priority for the international community.

Additionally, the ministers explored avenues for enhancing cooperation and coordination among their countries through the Quartet mechanism. They examined the future of regional security conditions and discussed strategies to boost the mechanism's effectiveness.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this gathering was the fifth such meeting for the foreign ministers of the involved countries. Previous meetings took place in Riyadh, Islamabad, Antalya, and Cairo earlier this year.

This meeting occurs amid the ongoing repercussions of the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran at the end of February. Despite a preliminary agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, brokered by Pakistan last June, tensions and confrontations persist in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas.