Kerry: ‘no question’ that Iran deal will make region safer

It may help Kerry and President Barack Obama counter one argument advanced by critics – that the deal must be bad because it’s opposed by both Arab states and Israel, which agree on little else.

The strategic dialogue was final held in 2009 and didn’t happen in subsequent years because of the Arab Spring and turmoil following the overthrow of Egypt’s authoritarian chief Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Kerry is leading an American delegation to Egypt, where the two countries are holding strategic dialogue.

During his visit to the sweltering Qatari capital, Kerry met separately with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss Syria and other regional issues. He famous that along with the F-16s, the U.S. had offered Egypt with Apache helicopters, assault boats, armored automobiles and different weapons techniques this yr. Extra assist is on the best way, he stated.

Mr Kerry said Washington “agreed to expedite certain arms sales that are needed and that have taken too long in the past”.

Egypt like other regional states remains suspicious of Iran, which has backed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and Shia Huthi rebels in Yemen.

Though the Egyptian press carries many accounts of army victories against the Province of Sinai, as the militants now call themselves, Egyptians familiar with the situation on the ground say that reflects government pressure on journalists to play down setbacks.

The conference occurred just after a court in Cairo had again postponed a verdict in the trial of three Al-Jazeera English journalists.

Shukri said no journalists in Egypt were in jail over their reporting.

“Any country regulates demonstrations as it deems appropriate to preserving the security and stability of its people”, he said. “They are all in the state of due process”. They are accused of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Earlier, at the televised start of the meeting with Shoukry, Kerry said Washington wanted to support Cairo economically and politically. “Otherwise, no matter how many terrorists we bring to justice, those groups will replenish their ranks and we won’t be safer”.

Monday’s meeting with Mr Kerry was the first time the states praised the agreement as a bloc.

Following Mursi’s ouster, Cairo launched a tough crackdown on the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian officials are hoping that the opening will boost a flagging economy. Underscoring the U.S. commitment to Egypt, eight F-16s were delivered Friday, the day before Kerry arrived.

Kerry began talks with Gulf states in Qatar on Monday, seeking to convince them of the merits of last month’s nuclear deal with Iran and to discuss the battle against Islamic State militants and the war in Syria. After meeting with el-Sissi, he left for Qatar, where he will hold discussions today on the Iran deal and its implications for the region.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been on opposite sides of the conflict in Syria. Saudi Arabia is the largest and most influential member of the council and has been publicly supportive of the Iran deal, albeit with reservations.

Still, Kerry mildly rebuked Egyptian officials for their imprisonment of democracy advocates and journalists. An Egyptian judge on Sunday said a ruling on the case has been delayed until August. 29.