Publish date3 Aug 2015 - 15:57
Story Code : 200412

Iran nuclear conclusion makes Middle East safer: Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry has once again defended the nuclear agreement with Iran as he is visiting Egypt and other allies in the Middle East.
Iran nuclear conclusion makes Middle East safer: Kerry

"There can be absolutely no question that if the Vienna plan is fully implemented, it will make Egypt and all the countries of this region safer than they otherwise would be or were," Kerry said in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on Sunday.

Iran and the P5+1 group -- the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany –  reached a conclusion on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the Austrian capital of Vienna on July 14.

The top US diplomat was also due to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later in the day in a bid to mend troubled ties between the two countries.

The overthrow of former Egyptian president Mohammad Morsi in 2013 by then army chief Sisi strained the Washington-Cairo relations.

Washington has repeatedly accused the Sisi government of violating human rights in their crackdown against Morsi’s supporters.

Sisi’s forces have since killed more than a thousand pro-Morsi protesters in their heavy-handed clampdown.

"There has been a little bit of tensions here and there over certain issues. The US has expressed concerns about some of the challenges of human rights protection," Kerry said.

US arms deliveries to Cairo will be resumed following Kerry’s visit.

The White House had halted all deliveries following Morsi’s toppling. However, the military aid was resumed in March when the first batch of F-16 fighter jets was delivered to Egypt last week.

"We have significantly increased military cooperation as seen from the delivery of the F-16s, other equipment and goods which are very essential in the fight against terrorism," Kerry said.

The visit to Cairo marks the beginning of his regional tour. He will then head to Qatar to discuss the Iran nuclear conclusion with foreign ministers of six (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) states in Doha.

"This is an opportunity, really, for the secretary to do a deep dive with the GCC foreign ministers to try to respond to any remaining questions that they might have and hopefully to satisfy them and ensure that they're supporting our effort going forward," a State Department official said.
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