CAIRO – 10 April 2025: Egypt stressed to Iran the necessity of protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and restoring regional calm to prevent the region from slipping into a cycle of violence and escalation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Abdelatty urged restraint during this critical phase the region is experiencing and emphasized the need to avoid any actions that could increase tensions.
He also highlighted Egypt's efforts to initiate the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and to contain the current escalation.
UNPRECEDENTED ESCALATION
The region is witnessing unprecedented escalation, with the US conducting ongoing strikes in Yemen to deter Iran-backed Houthis from targeting Israeli vessels in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have carried out numerous attacks on vessels linked to Israel and US warships in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israeli war that began on 7 October 2023.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea since the onset of the Gaza war have significantly impacted navigation, causing numerous ships to avoid passing through Egypt’s Suez Canal in favor of longer routes, which has deeply affected the Egyptian economy.
Egypt has reported a decline of about $800 million per month in Suez Canal revenues due to tensions in the Red Sea. In 2024, canal revenues fell by over 60% compared to 2023, resulting in an estimated loss of nearly $7 billion for the nation.
Suspected US airstrikes near Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Tuesday killed at least eight people and injured 16 others, according to the Houthis.
The US launched a campaign of intensified airstrikes on Yemen in mid-March, just days before Israel resumed its military action in Gaza, shattering a ceasefire that had lasted for two months and halted a war that has killed over 50,000 people.
US President Donald Trump warned that “hell will rain down upon” the Houthis, while the group stressed that US strikes will not deter them from supporting the Palestinian people.
The Houthis vowed to “meet escalation with escalation” and have launched missiles at Israel since then, triggering sirens and fear across the country, though these were intercepted.
The Houthis have stated they will not cease their attacks on Israel unless the blockade imposed by Tel Aviv on Gaza is lifted.
COLLECTIVE ACTION
During the phone call, the Iranian foreign minister urged collective action by regional countries to immediately stop Israeli actions in Gaza, as reported by the Iranian official news agency IRNA, citing a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman.
Araghchi called for establishing a ceasefire in Gaza as a crucial step toward resolving other crises in the West Asia region.
Both ministers expressed concerns over escalating regional tensions due to the current Israeli attacks and occupation in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the ongoing US strikes in Yemen.
They also discussed the planned indirect Iran-US talks, scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman, next Saturday.
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