Egyptian contacts with regional leaders and officials continue as part of de-escalation efforts to calm tensions between Washington and Tehran and positive signals over a possible memorandum of understanding to end the war.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the need to intensify efforts to reduce regional tension during a phone call with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
During the call which highlighted the regional developments, Sisi praised Oman’s constructive role in this matter.
He also reviewed Egypt’s efforts toward the same goal. According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency, he stressed the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Middle East, avoiding escalation, and resolving the current crisis through peaceful means.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also held a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ways to advance de-escalation efforts in the region, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
During the call, the two sides stressed the importance of continuing the negotiating track between the US and Iran. They said a political and diplomatic solution was the only and most effective way to address the current crisis.
Abdelatty welcomed a US decision to temporarily halt a military operation linked to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would provide space for ongoing efforts to reach a final agreement with Iran.
Responsibility and wisdom
The two sides said they hoped all concerned parties would act with responsibility and wisdom, and remain fully committed to diplomacy, negotiations, and dialogue as the main way to address all concerns.
They said lasting regional security and stability depend primarily on prioritizing political solutions that protect the resources of the region’s peoples and safeguard their interests.
At the end of the call, the two ministers agreed to continue their efforts, in cooperation with regional partners and in full coordination with the United States, to quickly reach an agreement on general principles between Washington and Tehran that would address all concerns. Negotiations would then begin on putting those principles into effect.
Abdelatty stressed the need to take into account the security concerns of Gulf states and other countries in the region.
The Egyptian foreign minister also briefed German National Security Adviser Günter Sautter during a phone call on Wednesday on Egypt’s efforts to stop the escalation and contain tensions.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of continuing the negotiating track between the United States and Iran, describing it as the most suitable way to resolve the current crisis.
Continuing contacts
Egyptian contacts have continued notably since the war with Iran broke out in late February. On Tuesday, Abdelatty held phone calls with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Oman, Badr Albusaidi; Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya; Bahrain, Abdullatif Al Zayani; and the US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The calls addressed coordination of regional and international efforts to reduce escalation and contain the current tension.
Abdelatty warned that continued escalation threatens to drag the entire Middle East into chaos, with consequences for international security and stability.
Influential role
The Egyptian contacts are particularly important as hopes grow for a possible final agreement to end the war between Washington and Tehran, according to former Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Raouf Saad.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Saad said Egypt’s role, whether public or behind the scenes, is calculated and influential, and that everyone in the region understands the importance of its continuation.
He said Egypt’s ongoing contacts to reduce escalation are part of Cairo’s continued role in this track, whether publicly or privately. He added that the move was not a reaction, but a calculated intervention, especially as hopes for an agreement increase.
Saad said everyone understands, especially since the Gaza war, that Egypt’s role is not optional, but central to regional balances. He said stability and balance cannot be achieved without it, and that this role should not be linked to Egypt’s economic situation or crises.
He said the role was not new, but had intensified since the Gaza war and the subsequent tension with Iran. He added that contacts between Cairo and Tehran had continued uninterrupted, reflecting Egypt’s ability to engage with various parties.
