El Sisi meets CIA director as Cairo seeks to narrow gap between US and Iran

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met CIA director John Ratcliffe on Sunday as part of what sources say are continuing efforts by Egypt to bridge the gap between the US and Iran on the terms for ending their war. News of the previously unannounced meeting came in an Egyptian presidential statement that quoted the CIA director as saying the US appreciated the “pivotal role played by Egypt in support of efforts to reach peaceful and comprehensive resolutions to the region’s crises”. “The American administration is keen to continue to work and closely co-ordinate with Egypt to achieve security and…