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US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Egyptian officials

FILE- In this July 28, 2015, file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Kerry is returning Friday, July 31, to the Middle East for security talks in Egypt and discussions in Qatar with Arab foreign ministers whose countries are wary of the nuclear deal struck with Iran. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE- In this July 28, 2015, file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Kerry is returning Friday, July 31, to the Middle East for security talks in Egypt and discussions in Qatar with Arab foreign ministers whose countries are wary of the nuclear deal struck with Iran. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

By Associated Press August 2, 2015 1 min read

CAIRO (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo as part of a Mideast trip aimed at assuaging concerns over the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Egyptian state television aired live footage of Kerry meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials on Sunday. Kerry is having other meetings throughout the day and is expected to later brief journalists.

Despite continuing human rights concerns in Egypt, the Obama administration is increasing military assistance to the country as it confronts growing threats from extremists, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula. On Friday, the U.S. delivered eight F-16 warplanes to Egypt as part of a military support package.

Kerry’s visit also comes as a verdict is expected in the trial of three Al-Jazeera English journalists.