Cairo, Egypt β Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday, according to a statement from Egypt’s presidency.
The meeting centred on regional developments and ongoing tensions in the Middle East. President al-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s stance on the importance of avoiding further conflict escalation.
He reiterated the country’s call for de-escalation and urged all parties to work towards preventing the situation from spiralling into a full-scale regional war.
Both sides discussed diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region amidst growing concerns over mounting tensions.
Araqchi stressed the need to continue exploring opportunities for mutual development between the two countries, according to the statement.
He arrived in Cairo late Wednesday for discussions with Egyptian officials, marking the first visit of its kind in years. This visit is part of a broader Middle Eastern tour amid growing concerns about potential escalation in the region involving Israel.
Tensions are particularly high as Israel is expected to retaliate against Iran for its missile strike on October 1, which occurred against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Araqchi arrived for “important talks with Egypt’s high ranking officials that will be held tomorrow [Thursday],” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on X on Wednesday, after stops in countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Lebanon.
Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained in recent decades. However, since the Gaza crisis erupted last year, both countries have increased high-level diplomatic engagements, with Egypt seeking to play a mediating role.
In July, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty visited Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s president.