Why it matters:
The US has been quietly but significantly boosting its forces and military hardware in the Persian Gulf and West Asia. For countries in the region, that buildup isn't reassuring; it's a flashing red alert that they could be caught in the crossfire of a US-Iran war.
The Big Picture:
The consultations were conducted within the framework of diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation and advance a negotiated solution concerning Iran’s nuclear file, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's statement said.
Egypt said the contacts come in line with directives from the country’s leadership to intensify diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing regional tensions and supporting dialogue-based solutions.
Egypt's top diplomat rang his counterparts in Oman and Iran, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA), and Steve Witkoff, the US President's special envoy to the Middle East.
The Bottom Line:
Egypt is making a clear push for a diplomatic off-ramp, arguing there's no military solution. The message from Cairo to Washington and Tehran is simple: find a deal, or risk a war that no one in the region actually wants to fight.
Go deeper:
Grossi Calls Iran-U.S. Nuclear Focus a Prudent Decision
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