Egypt says conducting contacts between US, Iran to encourage talks, ease tensions

CAIRO - 26 March 2026: Egypt is conducting contacts between the United States and Iran to encourage a negotiated track between the two sides and help de-escalate rising regional tensions, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Wednesday.

Speaking during an extensive briefing with regional and international media in Cairo, Abdelatty said the efforts are being conducted in coordination with regional and international partners to prevent the region from sliding into “comprehensive chaos” and to avert a potential global economic downturn.

The foreign minister stressed Egypt’s firm commitment to advancing diplomacy and prioritizing dialogue and ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end.

Mediation to End War

Egypt, alongside Turkey and Pakistan, has been passing messages between Washington and Tehran in recent days in an attempt to pave the way for direct engagement, according to media reports.

US President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that Iranian officials “are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly” to end the war.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said various messages have been passed through mediators but denied any intention to hold negotiations with the US at the moment.

Egypt has been actively in contact with both the United States and Iran, as well as regional partners, to help halt the war that broke out on Feb. 28 and has resulted in heavy casualties and widespread destruction in Iran.

Cairo has also condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeting Gulf countries with a US military presence, describing the attacks as unjustified.

Egypt-Gulf Ties

During the briefing, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s “absolute solidarity” with Gulf states, as well as Jordan and Iraq, in the face of unjustified Iranian attacks.

 

He underscored that Gulf security is an integral part of Egypt’s national security, expressing categorical rejection of any infringement on the sovereignty of Arab countries.

Attending the briefing, Minister of State for Information Diaa Rashwan cautioned against misinformation and divisive narratives on social media aiming to drive a wedge between Egypt and the Gulf countries.

He stressed that such voices do not reflect well-established official positions.

Rashwan noted full alignment and coordination between Egypt and Gulf countries amid the current “existential” situation.

He added that Egypt remains committed to transparency to ensure accurate and balanced reporting, free from selective coverage.

The foreign minister also discussed other regional crises, including the Palestinian cause and the situation in Sudan, outlining Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic engagement to support de-escalation and political solutions.