FMs of Iran, Egypt push for Muslim unity, action to stop Gaza genocide
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Ahead of the OIC meeting in Jeddah, Iran and Egypt stressed ongoing diplomatic coordination to counter "Israel’s" aggression in Gaza, calling for Muslim unity, humanitarian relief, and regional stability.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shakes hands with Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 24, 2025. (Iran’s Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a bilateral meeting in Jeddah on Sunday, ahead of the extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers. The gathering, chaired by Turkey, is convening to address the genocidal war against Palestinians, particularly the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
During their meeting, Araghchi and Abdelatty underscored the importance of continued consultations at both regional and multilateral levels to prevent the expansion of crises and preserve stability in the Middle East.
Both foreign ministers highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where the continued siege and military escalation by the Israeli regime have resulted in mass displacement and starvation. They urged Muslim countries to take immediate and coordinated action to halt "Israel’s" genocide against the Palestinian people and to accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
Araghchi stressed that Muslim nations must mobilize their collective capacities to effectively counter Tel Aviv’s hostile policies. “Solidarity and unity among Muslim countries in the face of common threats, especially the Israeli regime’s expansionist agenda, are of particular importance,” he said.
Strengthening Muslim unity against common threats
The extraordinary OIC meeting, held on August 25–26 in Jeddah, has placed the crisis in Gaza at the top of its agenda. Ministers are discussing "Israel’s" declared plan to fully occupy Gaza City, its continued starvation crimes, and its violations against Islamic holy sites.
The session is also examining mechanisms to exert greater international pressure, including legal action against Israeli officials, and ways to unify OIC member states around existing UN resolutions.
In an opinion piece published in Asharq al-Awsat before the OIC session, Araghchi warned that the illusion of a so-called “Greater Israel” poses a grave danger to global peace and security, calling on Muslim states to strengthen collective resolve.
The meeting between Araghchi and Abdelatty reflects a broader shift in Iran-Egypt relations, which have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. After decades of limited engagement, the two countries began exploring rapprochement in 2023 through Iraq-mediated talks.
In December 2024, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Cairo marked the first visit by an Iranian leader to an Arab country in over a decade, leading to direct talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. By mid-2025, both sides described their relations as entering an “unprecedented” phase of trust and cooperation.
Additionally, throughout 2025, Tehran and Cairo have coordinated positions on Gaza and other regional crises. Egypt has rejected "Israel’s" war against Iran, while both countries have jointly condemned "Israel’s" plans to militarily occupy Gaza City and forcibly displace its residents.
