Egypt welcomes Trump's Iran de-escalation remarks, urges dialogue

2026-03-23 - 21:19

Egypt welcomed Monday US President Donald Trump's statements regarding ongoing contacts aimed at de-escalating tensions with Iran, calling for dialogue to take precedence in ending the conflict. The endorsement from Cairo comes as diplomatic efforts show signs of movement after weeks of intense military operations. Cairo's diplomatic push In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Cairo continues its intensive contacts with relevant parties "to prevent reaching a point of no return, halt escalation in the region, and avoid sliding into widespread chaos." The ministry expressed support for "all efforts and initiatives that would reduce tensions and pave the way for de-escalation and ending the war," urging regional and international actors to "seize this opportunity and build upon it to prioritize dialogue." Trump's postponement Trump announced Monday that he had ordered a five-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing "very good and productive" talks with Tehran over the past two days. The pause in strikes targeting Iran's energy sector represents a potential opening for diplomatic engagement after weeks of sustained US-Israeli military operations. Conflict context The diplomatic developments come amid the ongoing US-Israeli joint offensive against Iran launched Feb. 28, which has killed more than 1,340 people, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation. Egypt's call for dialogue reflects growing regional desire to halt the conflict as it enters its fourth week.