Egypt pushes for US-Iran return to June MoU amid reciprocal attacks: FM

CAIRO – 23 July 2026: Egypt sees a path for the United States and Iran to de-escalate tensions and resume negotiations despite nearly two weeks of reciprocal attacks, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said.

To that end, Cairo has intensified diplomatic efforts with regional partners to revive the memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran in June, Abdelatty said in an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in the Philippines.

Abdelatty said Egypt is in daily contact with the two sides, as well as Gulf Arab states, Pakistan, Türkiye and other partners, to encourage a return to the terms of the agreement.

He said a specific proposal is currently under discussion and expressed hope that it would help reduce tensions.

Without disclosing much details, Abdelatty said the proposal is being discussed between Oman and Iran and concerns "freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

The foreign minister said negotiations could resume to implement the temporary agreement reached in June and eventually secure a final deal, provided there is "political will on both sides."

He stated that the current differences can be overcome.

The push comes amid nearly two weeks of reciprocal attacks between Washington and Tehran, with the US carrying out repeated strikes on Iranian targets and Iran responding with attacks on the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.