Egyptian president voices 'complete rejection' of Israel's escalation against Iran

CAIRO -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he voiced Egypt's "complete rejection" of Israel's ongoing military escalation against Iran, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi warned that "it poses a threat to the security and stability of the Middle East at a critical time when the region is experiencing multiple and escalating crises."

The Egyptian leader called for an immediate ceasefire to allow for the resumption of negotiations aimed at reaching a sustainable, peaceful solution to the crisis.

"There are no military solutions to this crisis," Sisi said, emphasizing the importance of working toward de-escalation to prevent the expansion of "the cycle of violence."

He reiterated Egypt's longstanding position that the only path to regional stability lies in "the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy."

For his part, Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Egypt's "wise positions" and welcomed Cairo's efforts to restore stability to the region.

He affirmed Iran's alignment with Egypt's stance on the need to find "a just, comprehensive, and final solution to the Palestinian issue."

The call marked the latest in a series of Egyptian diplomatic efforts to contain rising tensions between Israel and Iran and to prevent further escalation across the region.

The ongoing Israeli-Iranian military escalation began on June 13, when Israel launched a series of large-scale air and drone strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, resulting in significant casualties among senior commanders and nuclear scientists.

In response, Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages aimed at Israeli territory.