Egypt Daily News – Israeli media have expressed growing concern over the increasing closeness between Egypt and Iran, particularly following a recent meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, retired Israeli General Yitzhak Barik, an expert on Egyptian affairs, warned against this rapprochement, accusing Egypt of “strengthening ties with Israel’s enemies” and voicing fears of a potential military confrontation, given that Egypt possesses “the strongest army in the region.”
The newspaper noted that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Iranian nuclear negotiations. Citing an Iranian source, it reported Tehran is expected to reject the U.S. unilateral proposal, while the American “maximum pressure” policy continues.
The report also accused Egypt of not fully honoring its peace treaty with Israel, highlighting that it has engaged in joint military exercises and arms deals with countries considered among Israel’s fiercest adversaries. However the report ignores the fact that it was Israel who first broke the terms of the peace treaty when it occupied the Philadelphi corridor.
Barik warned: “Today, Egypt has the largest and most powerful military in the Middle East, and Israel has no real response if Egypt were to engage in war.”
During the meeting, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of any regional escalation and emphasized the need to de-escalate and avoid a full-scale war that could endanger regional security. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid.
Iran’s foreign minister, for his part, praised Egypt’s role in promoting regional stability and expressed his country’s commitment to strengthening dialogue with Cairo.
The meeting coincided with a statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announcing that Iran had increased its production of 60% enriched uranium—an issue that has heightened regional and global tensions.
This meeting is part of a broader pattern of increasing communication between Cairo and Tehran, which Israel is observing closely and cautiously.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also expressed appreciation to President El-Sisi for Egypt’s significant role in pushing for a resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
President El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s long-standing position as a leader in promoting disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, reaffirming the country’s vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.
