Abdelatty urges averting regional war in call with Araghchi after Israeli attack on Iran

CAIRO – 27 October 2024: Egypt emphasized to Iran the critical importance of de-escalation and preventing the region from descending into a devastating war with grave consequences for its people, following an Israeli assault on Iran on Saturday.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty conveyed these remarks during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement released by the Egyptian ministry early on Sunday.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's firm stance against all unilateral and provocative measures and policies that jeopardize regional security and stability and inflame the situation across the region.

During the call, the Egyptian foreign minister was briefed on the recent developments following the Israeli aggression on Iran and emphasized the need to avoid further escalation and work towards restoring calm.

The discussions also addressed Egypt's joint efforts with Qatar and the United States aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring full and unimpeded access for humanitarian and medical aid, and facilitating the release of captives and prisoners.

Moreover, the foreign ministers deliberated on the initiatives taken to halt the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's principled stance on empowering the Lebanese state institutions, advocating for the election of a consensus president without external dictations and in accordance with Lebanese sovereignty.

RETALIATORY WAVES

Israel announced on Saturday launching three waves of pre-dawn strikes against military targets in Iran, in retaliation for the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier in October.

The Iranian army announced the death of two soldiers as a result of the attack, noting that the strikes targeted military centers in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam.

The Iranian army stressed that it “successfully intercepted” the strike and that the damage was "limited."

On 1 October, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, constituting Tehran’s most substantial direct assault on its long-standing adversary and the second such attack since the Gaza war started on October 7 last year.

Tehran's offensive was a retaliatory measure after 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.

Egypt and the world have repeatedly warned about the looming threat of an all-out war as tensions escalate dramatically in the region, with Iran and Israel trading fire and issuing vows of retaliation against each other.

After Saturday’s attack, a senior American official urged an end to retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel but said the United States will be ready to defend Israel if Iran responds.

GAZA CEASEFIRE HOPES

This recent escalation compounds an already precarious regional situation characterized by the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, now in its second year, and recent Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon over the preceding weeks.

Regrettably, both conflicts have exacted a heavy toll on civilian lives, with tens of thousands of fatalities reported.

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have renewed their efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza amidst the escalating crisis.

The US has voiced its keenness on “redoubling” its initiatives to achieve progress in the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, leveraging the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar in mid-October.

Expectations are high for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations, with reports indicating a forthcoming meeting between Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea and CIA Director William Burns in Qatar later this week, as per Israeli media sources.

While Hamas's participation in these talks remains uncertain, Egypt recently hosted a high-level security delegation from Hamas in Cairo to address the challenges impeding a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza.