What Cairo told the IAEA and Iran about preventing a regional war
Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, reaffirmed Cairo’s opposition to military escalation in the Middle East amid growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Our policy is that the military is not a solution to the regional problem,” Abdelatty said during a joint press conference in Cairo with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “We need to avoid an extended state of chaos,” he added, referencing Israeli threats to strike Iranian nuclear sites as conflict continues in Gaza.
Abdelatty voiced support for ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. “We believe this opportunity should not be missed. Egypt is ready to provide all support to ensure the success of this peaceful path,” he said.
Grossi’s visit followed a recent IAEA report indicating Iran had increased production of highly enriched uranium.
“Our report is impartial. Maybe it is uncomfortable for some, but we don’t have a political agenda,” Grossi said. “Trust is not enough, we need more transparency. The agency aims to provide Tehran with incentives for clarity.”
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In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: “We want guarantees regarding the lifting of sanctions. So far, the American side has not been willing to clarify this issue.”
Grossi’s third visit to Cairo coincided with that of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, where both officials held separate meetings with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi before joining Abdelatty for a trilateral meeting later in the day.
