<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares spoke this Sunday with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, with whom he defended "containment, de-escalation, diplomacy, and negotiation" in the Middle East and with whom he discussed the security of the Spanish colony and Embassy in Iran.</strong></h4> "Spain is working for containment and de-escalation," Albares wrote on social media in reference to his conversation with Araghchi. "Diplomacy and negotiation are the way forward. The Middle East needs peace and stability," he added. "I have discussed the security of our colony and Embassy, which are fundamental to me," he concluded. This conversation followed the diplomatic marathon Albares held this Saturday with his Saudi, Egyptian, Lebanese, Jordanian, and Palestinian counterparts regarding the military escalation in the Middle East, "with the aim of promoting an urgent de-escalation, halting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and strengthening the commitment to a lasting political solution," the Ministry reported in a press release. In his talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, both agreed on the need to join forces to contain the violence and move toward a just peace based on the recognition of the State of Palestine and the two-state solution. Minister Albares also spoke with Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa, with whom he discussed the situation in Gaza and the region. In this context, he highlighted the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution, promoted by Spain and Palestine, which demands an immediate ceasefire and reaffirms the international commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to peace. In his conversation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, Albares expressed his concern about regional instability and called for restraint from all actors. He also reaffirmed Spain’s strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity, as well as its commitment to the United Nations mission in the country, UNIFIL. The minister also held a dialogue with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, in which he expressed Spain’s recognition of Egypt’s mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza and move toward the implementation of the two-state solution. Finally, in his conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister Albares reiterated the urgent need to prevent a further escalation of violence and reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to a secure and prosperous Middle East based on mutual respect and compliance with international law. “Spain will continue to deploy all its diplomatic efforts in bilateral and multilateral forums to contribute to a lasting peace in the Middle East, guided by the principles of dialogue, international legality, and respect for human rights,” the press release concluded.
