UPDATED: Deterrence, balance of power essential for stability in the Middle East: Egypt UN envoy
Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Osama Abdel Khalek stressed Thursday that deterrence and balance of power are key to maintaining peace and stability worldwide, noting that the Middle East is no exception.
Abdel Khalek's remarks to Al-Qahera News TV channel came in response to recent remarks by Israel's UN representative, who questioned why Egypt needs to arm itself despite the absence of direct threats.
"Since he granted himself the right to ask, the answer is clear, simple, and direct: strong and major nations like Egypt require strong armies capable of defending their comprehensive national security with adequate and diversified armament," the Egyptian official said.
However, Abdel Khalek reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to peace as a strategic choice, emphasizing that Egypt was the first to lay the foundations of peace in the Middle East.
He stressed that Egypt remains fully capable of defending its national security with a strong national army, a defensive military doctrine, and deterrence capabilities.
Moreover, Abdel Khalek clarified that the Israeli official's recent remarks were made in Hebrew media rather than in formal UN meetings, as such statements would have required an official response.
In response to the Israeli representative's questioning of Egypt's military needs, Abdel Khalek countered by questioning why Israel remains the only country in the Middle East with an unregulated nuclear arsenal, completely outside international oversight.
Meanwhile, Abdel Khalek highlighted Egypt's longstanding commitment to making the Middle East a region free from weapons of mass destruction.
Egypt diplomatic efforts
During the interview, the Egyptian representative highlighted Cairo's diplomatic efforts since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023.
Abdel Khalek noted that Egypt has prioritized securing a ceasefire, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and firmly rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
Additionally, he acknowledged the collective efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the US in securing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which were widely welcomed.
He further reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of settlement expansion, land annexation, and any form of forced displacement — temporary or long-term — while underscoring the necessity of a two-state solution.
Arab Group's firm stance
According to Abdel Khalek, Egypt played a crucial role in leading the Arab Group in the UN, presiding over it in December 2023 and again in January 2025.
Under Egypt's leadership, the group successfully passed four UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, including Resolution 2735, which called for a ceasefire.
Speaking strongly at the UNSC multiple times, Egypt reiterated the Arab Group's firm stance in support of the Palestinian people's resilience and opposition to any infringement on their inalienable rights.
Abdel Khalek underscored that this unwavering Arab position aligns with the stance of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who has clearly stated that Egypt cannot condone the oppression of Palestinians or the liquidation of their cause.
As a result, Egypt maintains its firm rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians.
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, along with other Arab ministers, formally conveyed this position to the US at the highest political levels, he said.
According to Abdel Khalek, Egypt hosted a meeting on 30 January at its UN mission headquarters with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Arab Group.
During the meeting, they reaffirmed their core principles, including Egypt's firm opposition to ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of Palestinians.
On Thursday, Egypt reaffirmed its categorical rejection of any proposal or plan to liquidate the Palestinian cause by displacing Palestinians from their historic homeland, even temporarily, asserting it 'would not be a party to such a plan.'
The Egyptian stance came in response to US President Donald Trump's repeated proposals to displace the Palestinians out of Gaza, culminating in a shocking plan to take over the Gaza Strip and permanently displace its Palestinian population.
Trump's remarks drew immediate regional and international condemnation.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UN Security Council meets Friday to discuss Israel-Iran war, as Tel Aviv, Tehran conflict escalates - as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides wage deadly strikes against one another for a sixth day. Related The US role in the Iran-Israel confrontation A Gulf wary of escalation The Middle East in flames Israel escalated its attack, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion', on Tehran six days after bombing residential and military areas in Iran, killing over 200 people and wounding over 1,200. As US President Donald Trump urged residents to evacuate—echoing Israeli calls for 330,000 people to leave central Tehran—the capital began to empty, with shops shuttered and traffic clogging westbound roads. In retaliation, Iran intensified its 'Operation True Promise III,' launching multiple waves of missiles into central Israel, where large explosions were reported overnight and air raid sirens wailed throughout the night. 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He said 'you may have to fight' to prevent Iran from getting nukes He has insisted that he doesn't want the US to get involved in a war with Iran, and he's insisted that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. He conceded that he may not be able to have it both ways. 'I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do,' he said. At another point, Trump said 'you may have to fight.' 22:12 Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents US interests in the Islamic republic, over recent remarks by President Donald Trump. "Following the irresponsible and threatening statements of the American president, the Swiss ambassador, as the guardian of this country's interests in Tehran, was summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs," state TV reported, without elaborating. 22:00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his "support in defending Israel's skies". The US has said it is not directly involved in Israel's campaign, but it is a key supplier of missiles and technology for its ally's sophisticated air defences systems. Reports have also said that American military assets Tel Aviv, including a Navy destroyer, have helped shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles. "I want to thank President Trump, a great friend of the state of Israel," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. 21:26 IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency says Iran today fired a Sajil MRBM for the first time. The missile has 2,500 kilometres range, and Iranians appear to be firing from further away as shorter-range bases in western Iran are pinned down. Sajil is also a good candidate for future nuclear weaponization. 20:19 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against "additional military interventions" in the Middle East. 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'The [situation] may get out of control ... and the region could slide into an abyss,' he told Abdelatty, adding that Israel's actions in recent days had 'suddenly' intensified tensions. 19:41 Iran has fired a new missile salvo at Israel. Tehran said it launched hypersonic missiles. The Fattah hypersonic missiles "have successfully penetrated the Israeli regime's defenses," state TV reported. Israel's army said that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran and that defensive systems were operating to intercept the threat. A missile is fired from Iran toward Israel. AFP 19:37 Iran issued an evacuation warning for the residents of the Israeli city of Haifa, state television reported. "A few minutes ago, an evacuation notice was issued to Zionist settlers in Haifa to protect them from Iranian missile attacks," state TV said. It showed an image of the targeted area accompanied by Hebrew text saying: "Please leave the reported area immediately -- in the next few hours, armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will operate in this area... to attack the military infrastructure of the Zionist regime." 19:22 Iran's Foreign Ministry denied sending a delegation to Oman for new negotiations, contradicting reports that an Iranian government plane carrying negotiators had landed in Muscat. Reuters cited sources saying the aircraft departed from Tehran and arrived in Oman despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes and a regional airspace lockdown prompted by the conflict. The sixth round of US–Iran nuclear talks, initially scheduled for 15 June in Oman, has collapsed following the Israel attack on Iran on Friday. File Photo: The Foreign Ministry of Islamic Republic of Iran building. Photo courtesy of Isranian foreign ministry. 19:05 The US ambassador to Israel announced plans for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy is "working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures" for "American citizens wanting to leave Israel," Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on X. Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel @usembassyjlm is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures. You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) ( You will be alerted w/ updates. — Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 18, 2025 18:32 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 'Iran fulfilled the deal. The US tore it up. Trump walked away—yet Europe demanded Iran stay loyal. Why the hell should Iran comply with a deal the West abandoned?' US President Donald Trump said that he spoke with Putin over the phone and that he rejected Moscow's offer to mediate Israel-Iran talks. Putin "actually offered to help mediate. I said do me a favor, mediate your own.... I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later," Trump said. 🚨🚨⚡ President vladimir Putin drops the truth bomb: 'Iran fulfilled the deal. The U.S. tore it up. Trump walked away—yet Europe demanded Iran stay loyal. Why the hell should Iran comply with a deal the West abandoned?' -: A brutal reminder of who really broke the agreement. — RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) June 18, 2025 18:21 An Iranian negotiation delegation has landed in Oman, Reuters reported, as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to ease rising tensions amid the Israeli attacks. According to Iranian and regional sources, Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman to mediate with US President Donald Trump to pressure Tel Aviv into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, offering flexibility in nuclear talks in return. Sources revealed that Gulf leaders and diplomats held intense consultations over the weekend with Tehran, Washington, and other parties, aiming to contain the escalation and prevent the conflict between Iran and 'Israel' from spiraling further. One Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran is willing to show flexibility in its nuclear negotiations if a ceasefire is achieved. In contrast, a Gulf source expressed deep concern over the risk of the conflict spinning out of control. Trump claimed that Iran still wants to negotiate with the US and even proposed sending a delegation to the White House but that it was getting "very late" for talks and he might soon authorize strikes on Iran's nuclear program. 18:20 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the Pentagon was providing possible options to Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran but would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli attacks, according to AP news agency. 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'We did not have any proof of a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon.' @iaeaorg Director General affirms his agency's findings about Iran's nuclear program. — Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 17, 2025 CNN has compiled a series of clips showing Israeli PM Netanyahu warning since 1996 that Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon within months. Iran: Weeks away from having nuclear weapons since 1995 — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 17, 2025 17:22 Asked if the US was moving closer to engaging in the Israeli attack on Iran and striking Iranian nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump said: 'I can't say that… You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question.' He has been speaking to reporters on the lawns of the White House. 'You don't know that I'm going to even do it. You don't know. I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do,' he said. 'I can tell you this – Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. And I said, 'Why didn't you negotiate with me before – all this death and destruction'. Why didn't you negotiate? I said to the people, 'why didn't you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country'.' 16:43 The Israeli army said public safety guidelines that have mandated school closures, among other restrictions, would ease in some areas from 6pm on Wednesday. Parts of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and West Bank, in addition to Israeli communities near Gaza and in Eilat in Israel's south, would be changed from "essential activity" to "limited activity" or "partial activity," the army said. 16:42 UK withdraws family members of its diplomatic staff in Israel have been withdrawn as Iran and Israel continue to exchange fire, Britain's foreign ministry said. 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'It also knows it is not going to win militarily, but it's trying to ensure that there are only losers here,' Geranmayeh said. 15:55 The leaders of Russia and the United Arab Emirates warned of "extremely negative consequences" from the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, as President Vladimir Putin pushed himself as a possible mediator. In a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Putin "confirmed Russia's readiness to provide mediation assistance to promote dialogue between the parties to the conflict," the Kremlin said in a statement. The two leaders "expressed deep concern over the continuing escalation of the Iranian-Israeli conflict, which could have extremely negative consequences for the entire region," Moscow added. Putin has held phone calls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering his role as a peacemaker. 15:45 Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Iran to resume talks over its nuclear programme as the conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic raged. Wadephul said he had delivered the message to his Iranian counterpart in a phone call on Monday, together with the French and British foreign ministers and the European Union's chief diplomat. "We, the E3 states, remain ready to negotiate a solution," Wadephul said, with reference to the European grouping of Britain, France and Germany. "Iran must now act urgently," he said, calling for "verifiable and confidence-building measures", such as a commitment from the government in Tehran not to pursue nuclear weapons capabilities. "It is never too late to come to the negotiating table if you come with honest intentions," Wadephul said in a press conference alongside the Jordanian foreign minister. 15:30 Multiple explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday, AFP journalists said, and black smoke rose in the east. The series of blasts was heard shortly before 3:30 pm (1200 GMT), on the sixth day of the most intense exchange of fire between arch-foes Iran and Israel. 15:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Iran had the "legitimate" right to defend itself in the face of Israel's ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day. "It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel's thuggery and state terrorism," the Turkish leader said, a day after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "the biggest threat to the security of the region". The long-range blitz began early Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to hit back with missiles and drones, including hypersonic missiles. "These attacks were organised while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place," Erdogan said. "Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognise any international rules.. did not wait for the negotiations to end, but carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result," he added. "We are closely following Israel's terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on high alert regarding the possible effects of these attacks on Turkey," Erdogan said. "We are making preparations for every kind of scenario," he said. "Nobody should dare to test us." On Monday, Erdogan said he had ordered the defence industry to increase production of medium and long-range missiles to "increase its level of deterrence" in light of the air war between Israel and Iran. 14:20 Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, said the Iranian armed forces, backed by the people and the authorities in the state, are ready to defend the homeland. In a televised message to the nation on Wednesday, Khamenei said that "Iran would not forgive the Zionist entity for violating its airspace and would not forget the blood of our martyrs." In an address to the nation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected President Trump's call for surrender in the conflict with Israel, and warned any US strikes on Iran will have 'irreparable consequences.' — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 18, 2025 Khamenei stated that Iran would neither accept peace nor war imposed upon it, addressing the United States with the warning: 'They must know that Iran will not surrender, and any American attack will have dire, irreparable consequences.' He emphasized that the Iranian people remain steadfast in the face of the war being waged against them, reiterating that the country will not accept any externally imposed peace or conflict. He added that the Iranian people will not yield to diktats from any party. Referring to the US threats, Khamenei said, 'Those who know Iran's history understand that Iranians do not respond well to the language of threats.' He further cautioned Israel, stating that it had made a 'grave mistake' by attacking Iran and stressing that Tel Aviv 'will face the consequences of its actions.' 14:00 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in the Middle East. In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical, as reported by Reuters. Ryabkov warned the US against direct military assistance to Israel or even considering such "speculative options," according to Russia's Interfax news agency. "This would be a step that would radically destabilise the entire situation. " 13:10 The UN nuclear watchdog said Israeli strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran. The strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme in Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday. In another strike on a site in Tehran, "one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested", the agency added in a post on X. 12:45 Iranian state television says it will broadcast a message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a few minutes. 11:45 The airport authority said that the first aircraft bringing home Israelis stranded abroad by flight cancellations resulting from the conflict with Iran landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday. This picture shows the empty departure hall at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. AFP "Just a short while ago, the first flight of Operation Safe Return landed at Ben Gurion Airport," a statement said, adding that the flight had been operated by national carrier El Al and brought Israelis home from Larnaca in Cyprus. Transport Minister Miri Regev said Tuesday that between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis were stuck abroad, as Israel and Iran traded deadly fire in their most intense confrontation ever. The ministry said all of Israel's commercial aircraft had been sent abroad to avoid them during the air war with Iran. After suspending flights last week, El Al said it was "preparing rescue flights" starting Wednesday with planes departing from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan, and Paris. The low-cost Israeli airline Arkia also announced special flights this week to repatriate Israelis. A statement from the airport authority said Wednesday that the return operation "is being managed in stages based on the level of risk and current security assessments, with a strong emphasis on the safety of passengers, aircrew, and aircraft. " It urged the public not to go to Ben Gurion Airport to greet arriving passengers or order taxis to pick them up from the airport due to "the current security situation". After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched a surprise air campaign against Iran on Friday. 11:15 The foreign ministry said Wednesday that Greece has repatriated 105 of its citizens and foreign nationals from Israel. The people repatriated were transported to Athens from Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt, onboard C-130 and C-27 Greek air force planes,' it said in a statement, AFP reports. File Photo: Sharm El-Sheik International Airport terminal 2. Photo courtesy of Sharm El-Sheik Airport website. Along with Greek citizens and their families, other people on the flight included citizens of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States, it said. 10:50 Israeli authorities say no people have been reported killed or injured in Israel from the latest overnight volleys of missiles from Iran, despite some damage. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man inspects the damage at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv. AFP The Israeli government says that approximately 400 ballistic missiles have been fired by Iran since Israel began its attack last Friday, with hundreds of drones also launched. The Israeli authorities say that since last Friday, there have been around 40 impact sites across the country, 3,800 people evacuated, 24 people killed, and more than 800 injured, according to a BBC report. There have been nearly 16,000 claims related to structural damage and more than 1,000 for damage to vehicles. Israel's Iron Dome air defence shield costs $250m (£186m) daily. A report in the Washington Post quotes a source briefed on US and Israeli intelligence, who says that without resupplies or greater involvement by US forces, Israel may only be able to maintain it for another 10 or 12 days if Iran maintains steady attacks. 10:30 Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed on Wednesday that his country would show 'no mercy' towards Israel's rulers, AFP reports. 'We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,' Khamenei posted on X. On Tuesday, Donald Trump boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Khamenei if it wanted. U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters on board Air Force One after leaving early from the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Calgary. AFP 10:15 Many Iranians reacted with fear and dismay at Donald Trump's instruction to "immediately evacuate Tehran", according to a BBC report on Tuesday evening. The capital's almost 10 million residents have now been left to decide whether to shelter in their homes, bracing themselves for what could come next, or attempt to join the heavy traffic leaving the country's capital. Many who decide to leave Tehran post images of their homes online, a poignant trend in Persian-language social media for those leaving their city behind. BBC Persian and other BBC correspondents said they have received messages from affected people. They have also conducted interviews and monitored social media to gather people's stories. Some Iranians had already decided to leave well before Israel issued the first evacuation order for parts of Tehran on Monday. "Many more Iranians living in Tehran have decided to leave since Monday, braving traffic jams of up to 14 hours and fuel queues to flee - unsure if their homes will still be standing when they return." According to the BBC report, some residents have decided to stay put because of elderly parents, young children, pets, medical needs, or a lack of options. This handout picture released by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 17, 2025 shows members of their rescue teams searching the debris inside a buidling in Tehran, targeted by Israeli strikes. Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire for a fifth consecutive day on June 17, with the Israeli military saying in a statement it targeted multiple missile and drone sites in western Iran, including infrastructure, launchers, and storage facilities. AFP 09:45 The US Embassy in Jerusalem will be shut from Wednesday through Friday due to the security situation in the region and to comply with Israeli guidance, the US State Department said. A road sign shows the way towards the US embassy in Jerusalem on April 19, 2024. AFP 'Given the security situation and in compliance with Israel Home Front Command guidance, the US Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) through Friday (June 20). This includes the Consular Sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,' the State Department said on X. 09:30 Iran said it had detained five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency on charges of tarnishing the country's image online, Iranian news agencies reported. "These mercenaries sought to sow fear among the public and tarnish the image of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran through their calculated activities online," the Tasnim and ISNA news agencies quoted a statement from the Revolutionary Guards as saying. They added that the arrests had been made in western Iran. 09:15 Iran said early Wednesday to have fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the archfoes, hours after Donald Trump demanded the Islamic Republic's "unconditional surrender". The US president insists Washington has played no part in ally Israel's bombing attack, but also warned Iran that his patience is wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day. Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn Wednesday after the military issued a warning on social media for civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate. Iranian state media reported explosions ricocheting in Tehran's Piroozi, Sabalan, and Sayyad areas. In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv to prepare for an attack, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying its hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles were "repeatedly shaking the shelters" in the commercial hub. "The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles" was carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television. Hypersonic missiles travel more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. Iran also sent a "swarm of drones" towards Israel, where the army said it intercepted two over the Dead Sea area. 09:00 Israel's military said Wednesday it struck an Iranian centrifuge production facility and multiple weapons manufacturing sites, in the latest round of strikes between the archfoes. This handout satellite image released by Planet Labs on June 15, 2025, shows new vehicle tracks and dirt piles over underground centrifuge buildings at Natanz enrichment facility, southeast of Tehran after airstrikes on June 15, 2025. AFP "More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours," an Israeli army statement said. "As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development program, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted." "During the wave of attacks, several weapons manufacturing sites were struck, including facilities for producing raw materials and components used to assemble surface-to-surface missiles," it added. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
2 hours ago
- Egypt Today
Egypt's PM says country not witnessing any power outages to reduce electricity loads
CAIRO – 18 June 2025: Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the country will not be witnessing any power outages to reduce electricity loads, noting that the power outages that took place in some areas were temporary or caused by a technical failure. Madbouly emphasized that the Egyptian economy is resilient. He also added that Egypt possesses strategic reserves of essential commodities sufficient to meet domestic consumption needs. Madbouly reassured citizens about the availability of various goods in the markets. emphasizing that the government promptly took action to address the implications of the current crisis on multiple fronts, particularly regarding fuel supplies and the enhancement of the country's stockpile of all basic strategic goods. This came during Madbouly's chairing of the weekly Cabinet meeting Wednesday, to discuss a number of issues and files. At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister addressed the worsening situation and growing tensions in the region over the past few days, reiterating Egypt's firm rejection of any expansion of the conflict in the region. He stressed the urgent need to stop Israeli military operations across various regional fronts, warning that continued escalation would have severe consequences for all the peoples of the region—without exception—as well as for the entire world. Madbouly noted that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has, in his meetings and phone calls with various world leaders, stressed the importance of the international community playing a more active role in urging regional parties to act responsibly, affirming that peaceful solutions remain the only path to ensuring security and stability in the region. In this context, he referred to a decision he issued to form a "Crisis Committee" under his leadership, tasked with monitoring the repercussions of the Iranian-Israeli military operations, to help prepare for any developments across various sectors. Regarding the domestic impact of the conflict, the Prime Minister stated that he will meet regularly with the committee members. He added that its first meeting will be held today after the Cabinet session. He also pointed out that he is currently intensifying his meetings with various advisory committees to assess the consequences of the recent events and their effects on different sectors of the state. In this regard, Madbouly also urged citizens to be highly mindful of electricity consumption under these exceptional circumstances, stressing the government's commitment to supplying power plants with the necessary fuel to ensure their efficient operation. Madbouly reassured citizens that there is no cause for concern regarding the availability of any basic commodities, as Egypt has strategic reserves that meet domestic demand. He noted that the government continues to monitor developments at all levels and is preparing multiple scenarios to address potential changes, expressing hope that stability would return to the region as soon as possible.
Egypt Today
2 hours ago
- Egypt Today
Egypt, China FMs urge de-escalation in Middle East, call for return to Iran nuclear talks
CAIRO – 18 June 2025: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed on Wednesday that diplomacy and political solutions remain the only viable path to address mounting tensions in the Middle East, warning against further escalation that could plunge the region into chaos. In a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Abdelatty underscored the urgency of achieving an immediate ceasefire and returning to negotiations as the sole route toward a sustainable agreement on Iran's nuclear program. The two ministers discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Middle East. Both expressed satisfaction with the steady progress in Egyptian-Chinese ties in recent years and affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in various sectors for mutual benefit. Regionally, Abdelatty briefed Wang on Egypt's efforts to defuse tensions between Iran and Israel and prevent the conflict from expanding further across the region, warning of severe consequences for regional security and stability. Wang welcomed Egypt's stance, noting the strong alignment between Beijing and Cairo on the issue. He praised a joint statement issued on June 16 by 24 Arab and Islamic countries, initiated by Egypt, which called for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of talks as the only way to reach a lasting agreement on Iran's nuclear file.
