Egypt urges diplomacy to de-escalate Middle East tensions amid Israel-Iran escalation

CAIRO – 22 June 2025: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty has urged diplomatic and political solutions as the only way to de-escalate tensions across the Middle East amid continued escalation between Israel and Iran.

Abdelatty’s remarks came shortly after the US announced on Sunday “obliterating” key Iranian nuclear facilities, a move strongly condemned by Iran and its world allies, including Russia and China.

The US attack came amidst a war between Israel and Iran, which Tel Aviv initiated on 13 June, bombing nuclear and military sites in Iran and assassinating key military officials and senior nuclear scientists.

The Israeli strikes, which have been supported by the US, disrupted US-Iran talks that aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear enrichment.

While Tehran says it reserves all options to defend Iranian sovereignty, interest, and people, Trump warned Iran that any retaliation “will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.… pic.twitter.com/AqCLmaLYJb

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 21, 2025

In a side meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf during a meeting for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Abdelatty warned against the repercussions of the Israel-Iran escalation on the region’s security and stability.

He stressed that diplomacy and political solutions are necessary to neutralize the risk of a comprehensive escalation in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump announced today a “very successful” attack on Iran’s nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, claiming that key enrichment facilities there were “totally and completely obliterated.”

Tehran accused the US of “betraying diplomacy” and launching a “dangerous war” against Iran.

Egypt has expressed “grave concerns” over the recent US strikes in Iran and emphasized the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of nations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined in a statement Egypt’s rejection of any violations of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Egypt expressed its condemnation of the escalating tensions that pose serious risks to regional and international peace and security, reiterating its warning about the dangers of the region slipping further into chaos and tension.

The statement stresses that political solutions and diplomatic negotiations, rather than military actions, are the only pathways to resolving the crisis and achieving lasting settlement.

Egypt renewed its call for an immediate cessation of escalation, urging restraint and prioritizing dialogue to protect civilian lives and ensure the security and stability of the region.