U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Egypt where he is to attend an economic conference and meet with senior Egyptian officials about security issues ahead of nuclear talks with Iran.
Washington says Kerry’s talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would focus on the U.S.-led international coalition’s efforts against Islamic State (IS) militants, the situation in neighboring Libya, and the ongoing conflict in Syria.
Kerry also plans to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas.
Kerry and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini were due to join hundreds of delegates on March 13 at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the Egypt Economic Development Conference.
The status of negotiations on a nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers also was expected to be discussed during Kerry’s meetings on the sidelines of the conference.
Kerry plans to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 15 to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as part of the EU-coordinated P5+1 nuclear negotiations.
On March 16, Zarif is due in Brussels to meet his French, German, and British counterparts before returning to Switzerland.
