Speaking at the event in Cairo, El-Sisi said Egypt was closely monitoring rapid regional developments amid the ongoing war and had taken precautionary measures to secure strategic reserves, while studying various scenarios to mitigate potential fallout.
The president said Egypt had sought over recent months to prevent escalation by mediating between the United States and Iran to reach an agreement, stressing that wars carry severe consequences for the countries directly involved and their neighbours, particularly given the evolution of modern warfare.
“Our efforts were sincere and well-considered, as miscalculations can have serious repercussions for states,” El-Sisi said, warning that continued conflict could undermine regional stability beyond the humanitarian dimension.
He noted that developments over the past two days had been “major and rapid,” adding that Egypt had consistently called for de-escalation and an end to the fighting, although he expressed doubt about the prospects of an immediate halt.
Egypt, he said, had coordinated with Gulf and Arab leaders to affirm its rejection of aggression against states and to express solidarity with countries facing security threats.
El-Sisi highlighted the potential economic impact of further escalation, noting that the Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy supplies. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz would affect oil flows and prices,” he said, adding that such a move would also have implications for maritime traffic through the Suez Canal.
Since 7 October, navigation in the canal has not returned to normal levels, he said, resulting in financial losses for Egypt. The government, he added, is assessing all possible scenarios to safeguard economic stability.
Addressing domestic concerns, El-Sisi reassured citizens that Egypt had secured necessary reserves and was prepared for contingencies, though he acknowledged uncertainty over the duration of the crisis. He said the country had worked over the past two years to overcome the effects of successive global shocks.
Since 2020, Egypt has navigated the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, and now the current regional escalation, he said, urging unity and resilience.
“For us as Egyptians, it is important that the state and the people remain united,” El-Sisi said, crediting stability and public endurance as key pillars of the country’s resilience.
He added that Egypt seeks to play a positive role in resolving regional crises and approaches both external and internal challenges with patience and deliberation to avoid further negative consequences.
The iftar was attended by senior state officials, including the speakers of parliament and the senate, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Defence Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, as well as ministers, governors, military commanders, police officials, former Armed Forces leaders, and cadets of the Egyptian Military Academy, according to the presidential spokesman.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.
Roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil, around 18–20 million barrels per day, passes through the narrow waterway, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas. Major Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iran, rely heavily on the route to export crude to Asia and Europe.
Because of this concentration of supply, even a temporary disruption to traffic through Hormuz can trigger sharp price volatility, higher shipping insurance costs, and tighter global energy markets. Alternative pipeline routes exist, but cannot fully offset the volumes normally shipped by tanker.
Tensions have escalated in recent days following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, prompting Iranian threats against maritime traffic and raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Shipping companies have reported heightened security risks in Gulf waters, while oil markets have responded with price spikes amid concerns of a possible supply disruption.
Analysts warn that any sustained closure or effective blockage of Hormuz would significantly restrict global oil flows, push prices higher, and add inflationary pressure worldwide, with knock-on effects for trade routes including the Suez Canal.
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