El-Sisi urges activating collective Arab national security concept in call with Oman’s sultan

CAIRO – 18 March 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for activating the concept of collective Arab national security to protect the stability, sovereignty and security of Arab states during a phone call on Wednesday with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the stability and sovereignty of Oman and Gulf Arab states amid the ongoing regional escalation, the Presidency said in a statement.

He stressed Cairo’s full rejection and condemnation of Iranian attacks on Arab countries.

Sultan Haitham, for his part, expressed appreciation for Egypt’s longstanding support for Gulf stability and sovereignty.

The president also reviewed Egypt’s intensive contacts efforts at both regional and international levels aimed at de-escalating tensions and stopping the war as soon as possible, the presidency said.

He voiced support for Oman’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, underscoring Egypt’s position that political and diplomatic solutions should be prioritized in addressing regional crises.

Both leaders agreed to continue consultations and coordination to bolster de-escalation efforts and restore regional stability, the statement added.

El-Sisi further emphasized the shared destiny and unity of national security between Egypt and Gulf countries, highlighting the importance of joint action to confront serious regional challenges.

The US-Israeli war in Iran has been ongoing since February 28, with retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region violating several Arab nations’ sovereignty, killing dozens and deepening Middle East instability.

El-Sisi last week stressed Egypt’s outright rejection of Iranian attacks on Gulf states, as well as Jordan and Iraq, saying these countries did not support or participate in the war against Iran.

Instead, they contributed to de-escalation efforts and supported Iranian-US negotiations in pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, El-Sisi said as he received a phone conversation with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.