Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for determined efforts to consolidate the recently announced ceasefire between Iran and Israel in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
A statement from the Egyptian presidency said Sisi welcomed the ceasefire and stressed the need to maintain and strengthen the agreement amid rising regional tensions that have brought the Middle East to the brink of a widespread conflict.
Sisi also condemned Iran’s recent missile attack on Qatar, reiterating Egypt’s “categorical rejection of any actions that violate the sovereignty of states, especially other Arab and Islamic countries.”
The two leaders reportedly agreed on the urgency of seeking comprehensive political solutions and advancing regional security through coordinated efforts. They emphasized the importance of resuming US-Iran nuclear talks, addressing non-proliferation concerns, and working toward a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.
President Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Egypt’s “balanced and supportive” role in promoting regional stability and stopping violence.
The diplomatic talks followed nearly two weeks of intense air warfare between Iran and Israel. On June 13, Israeli forces struck several Iranian military and nuclear facilities, citing claims that Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons, claims Iranian officials vehemently deny. In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes, and the US escalated the conflict by targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday.
A ceasefire was declared by US President Donald Trump on Monday, effectively ending 12 days of hostilities between the two rival states.