Egypt FM phones Iran, US envoy to defuse Israel–Iran conflict

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty talked with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff Friday to seek de‑escalation of Israel–Iran hostilities, Egypt Today reports. Accrording to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty urged a ceasefire, diplomatic efforts to halt regional escalation, and renewed focus on resolving Iran’s nuclear impasse.

The exchanges follow Israel’s drone and missile strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 13—killing scientists, military commanders, and civilians—and Tehran’s retaliatory hypersonic missile and drone attacks on Israeli infrastructure. Egypt condemned the escalatory cycle, warning of broader chaos, and emphasised the necessity of political and diplomatic channels to prevent a wider war affecting civilians.

With the Middle East teetering on the brink, Cairo’s outreach  reflect its potential mediation role in pressing for regional stability and a preference for negotiation over conflict.