Egypt presses for ‘balanced’ US-Iran deal as Trump says talks ‘on borderline’

CAIRO – 21 May 2026: Egypt on Wednesday stressed the paramount importance of continuing US-Iran negotiations until a “balanced agreement that serves the interests of all parties” is reached.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made the call during separate phone conversations with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The ministers discussed joint efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Abdelatty reiterated that any future agreement should also take into account the security concerns of countries in the region, particularly the Gulf Arab states, describing their security and stability as a key pillar of Egyptian and Arab national security.

He urged full reliance on diplomacy to settle disputes, thereby safeguarding the resources of the region’s peoples.

Striving for De-escalation

Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have been working in recent days to bridge gaps between the US and Iran and refine an updated proposal to end the war, according to sources quoted by Axios.

US President Donald Trump reportedly held a tense phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is said to be leaning toward resuming the war, telling him that mediators are working on a “letter of intent” aimed at ending the conflict.

The document is expected to end the war, followed by a 30-day period of talks to address issues including Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the US and Iran are “right on the borderline” between signing a deal or returning to war.

“The only question is, do we go and finish it up or are they gonna be signing a document? Let’s see what happens,” he added.

Abdelatty earlier told CNN that a potential “memorandum of understanding” between the US and Iran could “hopefully” be signed and “lead the way for setting the parameters and principles.”

He added that such an MoU would later be subject to negotiations over a specified period to address different issues, including the nuclear file.