Iranian foreign minister discusses regional tensions with Egyptian officials in Cairo

CAIRO — Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi discussed rising tensions in the region with Egyptian officials Thursday in Cairo during the first such visit by a top Iranian official to the North African nation in around a decade.

Araghchi held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi focusing on efforts to deescalate Israel's conflicts against Gaza and Lebanon.

El-Sissi reiterated calls to end Israel’s war in Gaza to prevent it from expanding into a regional conflict. An expanded war would have serious repercussions for the security and capabilities of all nations in the region, he added.

The Egyptian president also called for an end to the escalation in Lebanon, the violations in the West Bank, and to ensure the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid.

Araghchi’s visit to Egypt is part of a wider diplomatic tour in the region meant to ease tensions. This month he met with officials in Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq, and is expected to head to Turkey after concluding talks in Egypt.

The diplomatic effort by the top Iranian official comes as the region is anticipating an offensive by Israel in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attackson Israel on Oct. 1.

The Iranian foreign minister met his Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safdiin Amman to discuss regional stability “in light of Israeli regime’s continuing atrocity and aggression in Gaza and against Lebanon,” the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei posted on X.

Araghchi’s visit comes two days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman met El-Sissi to discuss developments in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The pair agreed on the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state as the only path to achieving sustainable ceasefire, peace, and security in the region.

A statement released by the Egyptian government said the Saudi and Egyptian leaders “called for steps towards de-escalation, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as addressing the worsening humanitarian conditions, and halting policies that push the region to the brink of further conflict.”

"They also reaffirmed the necessity of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity,” it said.