Egypt moves to cool Iran-US tensions amid fears of a power shift favoring Israel
With tensions between Iran and the United States on the rise, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has intensified diplomatic outreach, engaging officials from both sides along with counterparts in Qatar, Turkey, and Oman, and urging a return to diplomacy over military solutions. Egypt’s efforts to defuse tensions are not unique, as other regional states are pursuing similar initiatives, but Cairo’s motivations may differ. Abdul Amir Nabavi, an expert on Egyptian affairs, told Iran Daily that beyond seeking to avert the fallout of military escalation in the region, Egypt aims to prevent a shift in the balance of power in Israel’s favor, while also working to bolster its standing as an effective and responsible regional actor.
IRAN DAILY: What security, geopolitical, and regional considerations have prompted Egypt to actively engage at this stage in diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the US?
NABAVI: Egypt, like other Arab actors in the region, is deeply concerned about current developments. In effect, the escalation of the crisis and the possibility of a renewed war would carry profound and negative consequences for the security and economies of regional countries. Egypt, much like Turkey and other Arab states, is worried that intensifying disputes over the Iran file could drag the region into a crisis with no clear end in sight. An uptick in clashes and the risk of war could set off waves of migration, ethnic and sectarian conflicts, increased arms smuggling, and similar destabilizing phenomena across the region.
Egypt, already anxious about developments in Libya, Sudan, and Gaza, fears that the Iran file could further add fuel to the fire of existing crises. On the other hand, should Israel achieve its objectives with regard to Iran, the decades-long balance prevailing in the region would be disrupted, allowing Israel to emerge as an unrivaled power in the Middle East. The elevation of Israel’s regional standing is not something Turkey, Arab countries, and especially Egypt are prepared to accept. They prefer, under current conditions, that the existing balance be preserved in some form.
At the same time, by stepping up diplomatic engagement and seeking ways to manage and de-escalate the crisis, Egypt is also working to enhance its own regional standing.
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