Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Iraq should maintain its constructive role in strengthening the shared security of Arab countries and protecting the resources of the region’s peoples.
During Thursday’s meeting, Sisi discussed regional developments with Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq’s Hikma Movement. Egypt’s Director of General Intelligence Hassan Rashad and Iraq’s ambassador to Cairo, Qahtan Taha al-Janabi, also attended the meeting.
Impact of tensions on the region discussed
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, the sides discussed the current situation in the region and its impact on regional countries and their peoples, particularly Egypt and Iraq.
The meeting took place as regional tensions stemming from the US-Iran war, which began at the end of February, continued. During this period, armed groups linked to Iran carried out attacks on Arab countries, while the Baghdad government condemned the attacks and launched investigations.
Sisi also provided information on Egypt’s efforts to reduce tensions and prevent the region from being drawn into a new wave of escalation. He stressed the importance of Iraq’s constructive role in strengthening the shared security of Arab countries.
Arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz disrupted
The Islamabad Memorandum, signed by Washington and Tehran on June 17, provided for an end to military operations and arrangements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic.
However, implementation of the memorandum later faltered because of disagreements over how the agreement would be put into effect and passage through the strait. Fighting resumed in July, while international actors continued efforts to bring the war to a lasting end.
Agenda included aid to Gaza and the ceasefire
Sisi and al-Hakim also discussed Egypt’s efforts to support the Palestinian people. The meeting addressed the second phase of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, implementation of the US peace plan, facilitating the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and increasing humanitarian assistance.
Egypt has continued its efforts to implement the agreement amid the effects of the war in Gaza, which has continued since October 2023. According to Palestinian sources, 1,408 Palestinians have been killed and 4,916 wounded in Gaza since October 11, 2025, as a result of violations of the ceasefire agreement.
According to data from the Palestinian Health Ministry, the total death toll in Gaza has reached 73,928, while the number of wounded has risen to 175,030. Children and women make up the majority of those killed and wounded.
According to a United Nations estimate, 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, and the cost of reconstruction has been put at approximately $70 billion.
