President El-Sisi warns Iran crisis could spill over the region, praises Trump’s role in Gaza truce

CAIRO - 30 JANUARY 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has warned that the escalating crisis around Iran could carry serious consequences for the wider region, including significant economic fallout if fighting erupts.

In remarks carried by Egyptian media on Friday, El-Sisi said Egypt is pushing, and quietly making what he described as major efforts, to open dialogue in any form and ease rising tensions surrounding Iran. His comments come as Cairo has stepped up diplomatic contacts urging de-escalation and a return to diplomacy between Washington and Tehran.

Turning to Gaza, El-Sisi said the war only stopped through a personal intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump and through the peace plan put forward by Washington, describing Trump as a peace-making leader.

El-Sisi also described the U.S. declaration launching phase two of the ceasefire deal as extremely important, coming after the handover of the last bodies of Israeli hostages. Recent reports said the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza closed out the first phase of the ceasefire and set the stage for the next phase, as movement through Rafah is expected to resume on a limited basis under the wider plan.

He said there is now a need and an opportunity to move toward rebuilding Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid deliveries after a long period of fighting and hardship.