Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C) meets with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi (2nd L) in Cairo, Egypt, on June 2, 2025. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met on Monday with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Cairo to discuss accelerating regional developments, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

CAIRO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met on Monday with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Cairo to discuss accelerating regional developments, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

During the meeting, al-Sisi reiterated Egypt's position against the expansion of conflicts in the Middle East, warning that any further escalation could plunge the region into a broader war, with grave consequences for the security and stability of all nations in the region.

He emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation and stressed the importance of ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States.

Highlighting maritime security, al-Sisi called for the restoration of "normal navigation" in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.

Araghchi, for his part, praised Egypt's role in restoring regional stability. He affirmed Iran's commitment to continuing consultations with Egypt.

Egyptian-Iranian relations have seen signs of gradual improvement in recent years, particularly following the 2023 normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. ■