Egypt, Iran Agree to Deepen Cooperation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian agreed during a phone call on Wednesday that regional instabilities require strengthened cooperation between their nations.
They also discussed Iran’s nuclear negotiations, the Israel-Iran ceasefire, and methods for restoring stability in the Middle East.
Tensions: Relations between Iran and Egypt have been fraught with tension since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. While Iran violently rejected its ties with the United States, Egypt has maintained its alliance with the West.
When Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by Islamic terrorists, widely believed to be sponsored by Iran, ties between the two were officially cut.
Mending fences: A notable improvement in relations occurred on May 29, 2023, when Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced he would “welcome” the restoration of full diplomatic ties with Egypt. Since then, the two have taken significant steps to improve relations.
- In May 2024, Egypt’s foreign minister traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
- In October 2024, Iran’s foreign minister met Egyptian President Sisi in Cairo to explore boosting bilateral relations.
- In December 2024, Pezeshkian made the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian president in over a decade.
- Earlier this month, Sisi and Pezeshkian held a landmark phone call about the need for Muslim nations like Egypt and Iran to support each other as brothers.
Prophetic alliance: The Bible prophesies of an alliance between Iran and Egypt. And with the loss of several of Iran’s proxies and allies in the region over the last year, Iran now has a keen interest in building new bonds with Egypt.
This week’s call builds on the growing momentum, helping clear the way for these two nations to lay aside their historical divisions and begin forging this prophesied alliance.
To understand, read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Iran Allying With Egypt.”
