FM, Iranian counterpart discuss de-escalation efforts

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, on Wednesday received his Iranian counterpart, Dr. Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in the Kingdom as part of a regional tour. The duo discussed bilateral issues and efforts to end the dangerous escalation in the region and avoid a comprehensive regional war that would not benefit any party and would threaten regional and international security and peace, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The two ministers also agreed to launch a "systematic" dialogue to address all bilateral issues, aimed to develop relations based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and cooperation that would "positively" reflect on the two brotherly countries. Safadi said halting the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon and the Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank and against Islamic and Christian holy sites is the "first step to de-escalate and restore calm in the region." Furthermore, Safadi s tressed that Jordan will "not be a battlefield for any anyone and will not allow any party to violate its sovereignty and airspace and threaten its citizens' security." To resolve the Middle East crisis, Safadi said fulfilling the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and an independent sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution, is the "only" way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees security for all. The statement added that the two ministers discussed a slew of regional issues Source: Jordan News Agency