Egypt steps up diplomacy over Iran conflict

Egypt held urgent talks with officials from five countries to contain regional escalation linked to the war on Iran, as reported by the Middle East Monitor and agencies on March 23rd.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said the talks were ordered by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi amid worsening tensions in the region.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iran’s Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The talks focused on the ongoing military escalation and its impact on regional security, the foreign ministry spokesman, Tamim Khallaf, said.

He said officials discussed efforts to contain tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding.

According to a foreign ministry spokesman, the discussions focused on the ongoing military escalation and its impact on regional security and stability. He said officials discussed efforts to contain tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding.

Abdel-Aty called for restraint and urged caution amid increasing risks to maritime navigation. He warned that any disruption could affect global trade, supply chains and the cost of oil and food.

He also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Gulf security, describing it as directly linked to Egypt’s national security and rejected any aggression against Gulf states.

Tensions have risen since February 28th following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks targeting facilities in the Gulf and neighbouring countries, which Tehran has described as a response.

The conflict has increased risks to key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a large share of global energy shipments. Any disruption could affect global supply chains and energy markets.

The war has also begun to affect regional trade, with shipping traffic through waterways such as the Suez Canal falling in recent weeks due to security risks and higher insurance costs. Some shipping companies have diverted vessels to other routes.

Rising energy prices linked to the conflict have put pressure on economies across the region, with effects expected in sectors that depend on fuel and transport.

Middle East Monitor and agencies, Egyptian Gazette, Maghrebi.org