Egyptian president affirms need to avert all-out regional war in meeting with Iran’s FM

CAIRO – 17 October 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized Egypt's call for broadening efforts to prevent an expansion of regional conflict and the imperative of averting a full-scale war during his meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Cairo on Thursday.

Sisi cautioned that an all-out war would have severe consequences on the security and prosperity of all nations and peoples in the region.

The president underscored the urgency of ramping up international initiatives to secure ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, halt violations and attacks in the West Bank, and ensure the prompt and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the worsening plight of civilians.

Araghchi conveyed Iran's gratitude for Egypt's ongoing endeavors to promote stability and security in the region.

He also extended greetings and appreciation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Sisi, a gesture that Sisi welcomed.

Both sides concurred on the significance of continuing the current trajectory to explore horizons for development of the Egyptian-Iranian relations.

Araghchi's visit marks the first by a senior Iranian official to Egypt in a decade.

REVIVING RELATIONS

Egypt and Iran have navigated strained ties over recent decades. Nonetheless, they have worked towards enhancing their relations over the recent years and have engaged in close high-level coordination regarding regional developments since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Last year, Egypt and Iran deliberated on the factors and principles guiding their bilateral relations, aiming to foster their growth on the basis of mutual respect, good neighborliness, cooperation, and non-interference in internal affairs.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed his country's desire to advance relations with Egypt, aligning them with the two nations’ historical and cultural backgrounds.

LOOMING THREATS

Araghchi's current visit to Egypt is part of a broader diplomatic tour encompassing stops in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon, and Oman amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon and escalating tensions in the region.

Araghchi's tour coincides with imminent Israeli threats against Iran following Iran's launch of around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on October 1.

This marked Tehran's largest direct strike against its long-standing adversary and the second such attack since the onset of the Gaza war.

Tehran's actions were in retaliation to Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Lebanon in September.

An Israeli source disclosed to ABC News on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a list of targets for potential retaliation against Iran's aerial assault.

Iran has repeatedly warned Israel against retaliating to its attack, asserting that its response will be "stronger and more resolute."