Egypt’s el-Sissi meets Iran’s foreign minister to discuss regional conflict

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Thursday, marking the first high-level diplomatic exchange between the two countries in years.

The meeting, part of Araqchi’s broader Middle Eastern tour, focused on regional developments and the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as the need to prevent further escalation in the region.

Focus on avoiding regional escalation

During the meeting, Egypt President el-Sissi emphasized Egypt’s consistent stance on the importance of avoiding any expansion of the conflict and called for immediate efforts to de-escalate tensions.

According to an official statement from Egypt’s presidency, el-Sissi reiterated that preventing a full-scale regional war remains a top priority for Cairo, urging all parties involved to exercise restraint.

The discussions also addressed the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions, particularly in the aftermath of Iran’s missile strike on Oct.1. Israel is anticipated to retaliate for the attack, which has heightened concerns of a potential confrontation between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Exploring prospects for Iran-Egypt relations

Araqchi, who landed in Cairo late on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts to explore potential development in bilateral relations between Egypt and Iran.

The Iranian foreign minister stressed both countries stand to benefit from renewed cooperation and dialogue, especially amid the increasing instability in the region.

The Egyptian government has played a mediating role in several regional crises over recent years, including the conflict in Gaza.

The heightened diplomatic activity between Cairo and Tehran follows Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty’s visit to Tehran in July for Iran’s presidential inauguration, signaling a possible thaw in the historically tense relations.

The meeting focused on reviewing the current developments in the region, where the President stressed the Egyptian position calling for not widening the circle of conflict and the need to stop the escalation, to prevent sliding into a comprehensive regional war, which will have serious repercussions on the security and capabilities of all countries and peoples of the region.

In this context, the President stressed the need to continue and intensify international efforts to stop the cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon, stop violations and attacks in the West Bank, and implement urgent and sufficient humanitarian aid to end the exacerbated suffering of civilians.

Egypt Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy

First diplomatic visit in years amid rising regional tensions

Araqchi’s visit to Cairo marks the first such high-level meeting between Iran and Egypt in recent years, underscoring the gravity of the ongoing regional crisis.

The Iranian foreign minister is on a Middle Eastern tour that has seen him hold talks with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Lebanon.

His trip comes amid a period of rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in relation to Israel’s potential military actions against Iran.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has also intensified, further straining regional stability.