Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call on Wednesday with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, as part of intensified diplomatic contacts between Cairo and Tehran aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and addressing sensitive regional issues, most notably Iran’s nuclear programme.
According to a statement by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between their countries and welcomed the recent increase in meetings and communication. Both sides expressed a shared desire to continue consultation and coordination on issues of mutual interest in a manner that serves the interests of Egypt and Iran alike.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on developments related to the Iranian nuclear file. Abdelatty stressed the importance of sustained efforts to reduce tensions, build confidence, and create conditions conducive to diplomacy. He underlined Egypt’s position that resuming dialogue is essential to reaching a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, one that balances the interests of all parties while contributing to regional security and stability.
The call reflects Egypt’s broader diplomatic approach, which prioritizes de-escalation and engagement at a time of heightened regional uncertainty. Contacts between Cairo and Tehran have intensified in recent months after years of limited interaction, with discussions extending beyond the nuclear issue to include the war in Gaza, Red Sea security, freedom of navigation, and wider regional stability.
Egypt has also stepped up coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency, with Abdelatty holding talks with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. During those discussions, Cairo emphasized the agency’s central role in verification and monitoring, while stressing the need to insulate technical cooperation from political disputes. Egyptian officials have consistently argued that continued engagement with the IAEA is vital to preventing further deterioration and preserving space for diplomacy.
Against this backdrop, Egypt played a mediating role in brokering understandings in September between Iran and international parties aimed at stabilizing the nuclear file, rather than fully reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement. The so-called Cairo understanding focused on de-escalation, restoring a minimum level of cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA, and preventing further loss of transparency.
However, those efforts faced setbacks in November, when Araghchi accused the United States, Britain, France, and Germany of pursuing an escalatory course following the adoption of a new IAEA Board of Governors resolution. The resolution called on Iran to provide “full and prompt” cooperation with the agency, including granting access to sensitive nuclear sites.
Araghchi said the move reflected deliberate escalation by Washington and the three European powers, warning that it carried direct political consequences. He later stated that the resolution effectively terminated the Cairo understanding. Tehran subsequently informed the IAEA that it considered the arrangement null and void, particularly after European states moved toward triggering the reimposition of UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 deal.
Despite these challenges, Egypt continues to advocate diplomacy as the only viable path forward. Cairo’s engagement with Tehran and international actors underscores its attempt to limit regional escalation and keep channels of dialogue open, even as disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme deepen and prospects for a broader agreement remain uncertain.
