Egypt’s president condemns Iran attacks on Saudi Arabia, region in meeting with crown prince

JEDDAH – 21 March 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi renewed Egypt’s condemnation of repeated Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, reaffirming Cairo’s solidarity with the kingdom against any threats to its sovereignty and security.

El-Sisi made the remarks during a meeting on Saturday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Jeddah, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

During the meeting, the leaders discussed regional developments, particularly the implications of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East and its impact on regional and global security, as well as coordination of efforts to address the situation.

The meeting highlighted that the repeated Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including strikes on vital and civilian facilities, represent a serious escalation that threatens regional stability.

Middle East Escalation

Iran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, including oil facilities, military sites, and energy infrastructure, many of which were intercepted by Gulf air defenses.

The attacks come amid the ongoing conflict that erupted on February 28, following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, triggering retaliatory Iranian attacks against Gulf states that host US military presence.

Saudi Arabia this week warned that “escalation will be met with escalation,” marking an unprecedented hardening of its rhetoric toward Tehran.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told reporters on Thursday that “neither Saudi Arabia nor the Gulf states will accept blackmail” and that “escalation will be met with escalation.”

He added that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take military action in response to Iranian attacks.

El-Sisi earlier 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 told Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian via phone in mid-March.