Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has launched a wide-reaching diplomatic initiative aimed at consolidating a ceasefire between Iran and the Israeli occupation and reviving stalled negotiations surrounding Gaza. The move comes as part of a broader strategy ordered by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to reinforce Egypt's position as a key regional stabilizer amid unprecedented military tensions. 

In a series of high-level phone calls over the weekend, Abdelatty engaged with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, US Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the discussions emphasized "the urgent need for coordinated regional and international efforts to solidify the Iran-Israel ceasefire and resume diplomatic negotiations toward a sustainable resolution of the Iranian nuclear file."

Diplomatic Surge

The outreach follows the June 13 Israeli strike on Iranian territory, which Cairo condemned as a "blatant and extremely dangerous regional escalation" and was met with an unprecedented Iranian retaliatory barrage of ballistic and hypersonic missiles targeting Israeli military and nuclear sites. In response to these developments, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened a national crisis committee composed of senior ministers, economic planners, and security chiefs to assess potential threats to Egypt's national preparedness, economy, and energy security.

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Egypt's engagement has drawn praise from international counterparts who, according to the Foreign Ministry, "underscored Egypt's ability to foster mutual understanding and build common ground that serves the interests of all sides during this critical period, reinforcing regional security and stability."

Simultaneously, Cairo is working with Qatar and the United States on a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza. The plan, based on a 60-day truce, would include the release of Israeli detainees in exchange for humanitarian access to the enclave, which has been suffering under near-total blockade and continuous bombardment since October 2023.

Ceasefire Diplomacy

In late June, Abdelatty stressed the urgency of halting Israeli aggression in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. "Any resumption of the Israeli aggression after an agreement is reached would be a major source of regional instability," he warned. He further noted the importance of enforceable guarantees to ensure the longevity of any ceasefire agreement, adding, "There is an American vision and understanding of the importance of including guarantees in any upcoming agreement to ensure the sustainability of a ceasefire."

The Gaza initiative follows the collapse of a previous ceasefire brokered on January 19, which disintegrated when Israel resumed its military operations in March. Over 56,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, have been killed in the war, sparking growing outrage across the region.

Abdelatty also reiterated Egypt's longstanding position on nuclear non-proliferation, calling attention to "Israel's" refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and submit its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspections. "Israel remains the only party in the region that has not joined the NPT and refuses to place all its nuclear facilities under the agency's safeguards," he said in an earlier meeting with Grossi. Iranian officials have since warned that Israel's recent escalation could compel Tehran to reconsider its own NPT commitments.

Read more: Egypt urges 'Israel' to join NPT, citing regional nuclear imbalance

Egypt is preparing to host an international conference for Gaza's early recovery and reconstruction, contingent upon a lasting truce. In recognition of these efforts, Witkoff commended Egypt's continuous efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and its constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.