Egypt's Sisi Stresses Diplomacy as Only Way Out of Iran Crisis

(MENAFN) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi pressed firmly Saturday for a return to dialogue and diplomatic engagement as the sole viable path out of the escalating Iranian crisis, cautioning that military approaches serve no party's long-term interests.

Sisi delivered the message through a series of separate phone calls with the leaders of Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to official statements released by the Egyptian Presidency.

The Egyptian leader warned that continued reliance on military force risks dragging the entire region into a destructive spiral of violence, instability, and bloodshed — an outcome he stressed stands in direct contradiction to the aspirations of the region's peoples, who seek prosperity, security, and stability.

Cairo also moved to express unequivocal solidarity with Arab nations that bore the brunt of Iranian missile counterattacks, with Sisi registering Egypt's categorical rejection and condemnation of any breach of Arab sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity.

The remarks came as the Middle East plunged deeper into crisis following the U.S.-Israeli launch of what both governments described as "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday. Tehran responded swiftly with a wave of retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli and American positions across the region, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.

MENAFN01032026000045017169ID1110804612