Regional shifts set ...
Page 1
On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Egypt on his third official trip to the North African country since taking office in 2024. Also last year, President Masoud Pezeshkian met with his Egyptian counterpart on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. Proposals were exchanged, and dialogue was kept alive.
The region has since been shaken up by major developments, including in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the Israeli war. Perhaps the most significant shift has been the dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood, an event that is far from minor. This move has reshaped the strategic landscape of the Arab world, especially in relation to Turkey, with consequences both positive and negative. Savvy diplomacy means using these developments as openings for new strategies and decisions.
In light of these development, the dynamics on the ground have changed. For some countries, these changes have proved costly, while others have reaped benefits. It now appears that a golden window of opportunity has opened for Iran and Egypt to restore their diplomatic ties, as a new regional arena has emerged in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict. Israel has once again surfaced as the central concern for Arab nations and regional states. Countries like Egypt and Jordan Lebanon are viewing Israel with renewed seriousness, a regime, which by its very nature, has never taken a benevolent stance toward Muslim nations or its surrounding region, and it continues to pursue longstanding ambitions.
Given these threats and surrounding developments, a new diplomatic mission is not only appropriate, but it is timely. Of course, its success depends on the practicality of the proposals on offer, but even mere dialogue is a significant move. Progress must be made step by step. Egypt holds enormous potential in terms of population, geography, and strategic location. Most importantly, both Iran and Egypt are home to two of the oldest civilizations in the Islamic world. Such heritage provides fertile ground for expanding cooperation in various sectors. Such an endeavor will require serious work and expert-level discussions, but the potential for mutual gain is unmistakable.