Aboul Gheit welcomes US-Iran agreement on ceasefire

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed the agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran on a two-week ceasefire, affirming that it constitutes an important step in the right direction that must be upheld and not squandered, in order to de-escalate tensions and prevent the region from sliding into catastrophic scenarios.

Mr. Aboul Gheit stressed the need for Iran to immediately halt all its military attacks on Arab states, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation, and to secure energy supplies.

He affirmed that any future arrangements reached between the United States and Iran must safeguard the interests of the Arab Gulf states that have been subjected to Iranian attacks, respect their sovereignty, and take into account the fundamental determinants of their security.

The Secretary-General further noted that it is both natural and logical for the agreement as announced by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to encompass Lebanon.

On this basis, the League of Arab States calls upon the United States to ensure that this is imposed on the Israeli side, which continues its aggressive campaign against Lebanon without regard to the agreement reached.

Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, conveyed Mr. Aboul Gheit’s renewed affirmation that the security of the region is indivisible, and that the principles set forth in the joint Arab vision for security and cooperation in the region remain the solid foundation for a sustainable peace.