Egypt Works To Help Facilitate Deal Between US, Iran: President

Cairo, June 1 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said that the country was helping to facilitate a peace deal between the United States and Iran, as he spoke with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over regional developments.During a phone conversation on Sunday, Sisi said Egypt was engaged in intensive contacts with various parties concerned to help facilitate a comprehensive agreement between the United States and Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.He stressed Egypt’s position was grounded in the principles of international law and in respect for the sovereignty of states and the resources of their peoples.For his part, Macron outlined France’s efforts to achieve sustainable peace and to avert the Middle East’s descent into chaos, emphasizing the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and lifting any restrictions on passage through it.Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the United States is close to reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran but warned that military action remains an option if negotiations fail.In an interview with Fox News at the White House, Trump said his administration’s priority is ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.”We’re close to a very good deal, and if we can make it good, otherwise we just start up with the Department of War, as we call it,” Trump said.Trump said Iran had agreed to language barring it from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.”The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons,” he said. “They’ve agreed to that.”He said negotiators had expanded the terms under discussion after he raised concerns about Iran potentially obtaining a weapon from another source.”They originally said we will not develop a nuclear weapon. I said, well, what happens if you buy a nuclear weapon?” Trump said. “Now it says we will not develop or in any way purchase a military weapon.”The President described the negotiations as difficult but said progress was being made.”Very tough negotiators. It takes a long time,” he said. “Slowly but surely, we’re getting, I think, what we want.”Trump said he preferred a negotiated settlement but reiterated that the United States would act if its demands were not met.intrs