ISTANBUL

Egypt’s foreign minister held talks on Monday with his Iranian counterpart as well as the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss the resumption of negotiations between the two sides.

A Foreign Ministry statement said Badr Abdelatty’s talks over the phone with Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi aimed at creating conditions for the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog.

The ministry stressed the necessity of reaching a common ground to serve the interests of all parties, “reduce escalation, restore confidence, and create a supportive climate to achieve regional security and stability.”

Egypt said its contacts are part of efforts to reach understandings between Iran, the US, and European countries.

Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following US and Israeli attacks on the country, accusing the nuclear watchdog of bias against Tehran.

Iran was engaged in Oman-mediated nuclear negotiations with the US when Israel launched a surprise attack on Tehran on June 13, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites as well as senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, while the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. The 12-day conflict came to a halt under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24.