Egypt rejects Israeli escalation against Iran, calls for ceasefire
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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi tells Iran’s Pezeshkian that Cairo rejects the Israeli occupation's escalation as he urges an immediate ceasefire and the return to diplomatic talks.
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President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirmed his country's firm rejection of the Israeli occupation’s military escalation against Iran during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday.
In the conversation, Sisi stressed Egypt’s full opposition to the Israeli regime's aggressive actions, underlining the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further regional destabilization and pave the way for a return to negotiations.
The Egyptian president emphasized that military solutions will not resolve the crisis, calling for efforts to de-escalate tensions and resume diplomatic talks aimed at achieving a sustainable and peaceful resolution.
For his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Egypt’s “wise and stabilizing positions,” which he said serve the broader goal of restoring peace in the Middle East and preserving lives on all sides. He also reaffirmed Tehran’s agreement with Cairo’s stance on the need for a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause.
Regional diplomacy intensifies
The phone call came as Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate discussions on Friday with US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks focused on the rapidly evolving regional crisis, especially in light of the continued Israeli aggression against Iran.
During those meetings, Abdelatty called for the exhaustion of all political and diplomatic channels in order to reach a sustainable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and avoid further military escalation.
The move comes as Cairo publicly condemned the Israeli assault as a "blatant and extremely dangerous regional escalation" and a "flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter," warning that such actions threaten to plunge the region into broader instability.
On Monday, Egyptian Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsani announced that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had issued a decree forming the committee, which is tasked with tracking developments in light of what he described as the rapidly evolving situation caused by "the military escalation between Iran and Israel."
El-Homsani explained that the committee will be led by Madbouly and includes a wide range of senior state officials, such as the governor of the Central Bank and ministers of key portfolios, including industry, planning, international cooperation, electricity, finance, supply, and petroleum. Representatives from Egypt's defense and interior ministries, along with intelligence and oversight agencies, will also participate.
