Combined photos from (L to R) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, UK’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, and Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani
According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Tamim Khalaf, both calls addressed developments related to Iran, with Abdelatty underscoring Egypt’s priority at this sensitive stage to contain tensions and pursue de-escalation through political and diplomatic channels, thereby preventing the region from sliding into wider instability.
He emphasized the importance of coordinated regional and international efforts to create conducive conditions for resuming dialogue between the United States and Iran on the nuclear issue, aiming to reach a comprehensive and balanced agreement that takes into account the interests of all parties and supports regional and international security.
In the call with Tajani, the two ministers reviewed ways to strengthen Egyptian–Italian relations, with Abdelatty praising ties between the two countries and stressing Egypt’s keenness to expand cooperation across political, economic, and investment tracks.
He voiced interest in boosting bilateral trade and deepening cooperation in renewable energy.
Talks with the British official also covered the Palestinian issue, with Abdelatty emphasizing the need for the international community to meet its responsibilities to ensure implementation of the second phase of President Trump’s plan.
He highlighted support for the national committee to administer Gaza, the swift deployment of an international stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, and steps to enable early recovery and reconstruction based on a comprehensive approach centered on the needs of Palestinians in the enclave, while ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid.
The call further reviewed developments in Sudan, where Abdelatty stressed the importance of reaching a humanitarian truce as a prelude to a comprehensive ceasefire.
He called for intensified regional and international efforts to launch an inclusive, Sudanese-owned political process and for establishing safe humanitarian corridors to guarantee unhindered access to aid.
Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s firm support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and the preservation of its national institutions, outlining Egypt’s efforts within the framework of the quadrilateral mechanism.
Egypt has intensified diplomatic engagement on the Iranian file in recent months, positioning itself as a key regional advocate for de-escalation and negotiated solutions amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Cairo has maintained sustained consultations with regional and international partners, stressing that political and diplomatic tracks, not military action, are the only viable means to prevent the expansion of regional crises and safeguard Middle East stability.
As part of this approach, Abdelatty maintained high-level contacts with his Arab and international counterparts.
On Tuesday, Egypt’s top diplomat held separate talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, focusing on containing the escalation and creating conditions for renewed US–Iran dialogue.
Egyptian officials have warned that failure to de-escalate risks triggering interconnected crises across the region, particularly amid heightened military posturing following US President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy additional naval and air forces toward Iran and Tehran’s subsequent threats of retaliation.
Cairo has complemented regional coordination with direct mediation efforts, including hosting talks that produced the Cairo agreement, reached in September between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) to establish a framework for cooperation, but was deemed invalid by Tehran in October when Britain, Germany, and France, or E3, triggered the return of UN sanctions that had been lifted under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.
In a call on Saturday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, that Egypt supports dialogue, restraint, and diplomatic engagement to address both the nuclear issue and broader regional tensions.
In parallel, Cairo has coordinated with other regional actors, including Türkiye and Qatar, in reported efforts to facilitate indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran to ease tensions and avert military confrontation, reinforcing Egypt’s broader strategy of sustained diplomacy to promote a comprehensive and balanced settlement that supports regional and international security.
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