Egypt on Wednesday welcomed an announcement by US President Donald Trump approving a suspension of military operations in the region, calling it a vital opportunity to advance diplomacy and dialogue.

In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the move represents a significant and positive development toward de-escalation, containing tensions, and safeguarding the security, stability and resources of the region and the world.

What Happened Overnight

Earlier in the day, Trump announced a two-week “double-sided” ceasefire between the United States and Iran, contingent on ensuring the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came ahead of the expiration of a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the vital shipping lane and reach an agreement or face “hell.”

Trump had warned that the US would strike Iran’s power stations and civilian infrastructure, stating that “a whole civilization will die tonight” and “never to be brought back again.”

In a post on his platform Truth Social today, Trump said the ceasefire followed talks involving Pakistan, which acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, alongside regional partners including Egypt and Turkey in recent weeks.

Tehran also announced its agreement to halt its “defensive” operations and to allow freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz “in coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations” for the same two-week period.

Trump further revealed that the United States had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, describing it as a “workable basis” for negotiations.

Tehran, for its part, said it had also received a 15-point plan from Washington to guide potential talks.

In a separate post hours later, Trump said the United States “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that Iran could begin reconstruction efforts.

“We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ to make sure that everything goes well,” he said.

Upholding Diplomacy

Egypt stressed that the suspension of military operations by the United States, and Iran’s reciprocal response, constitute a critical opportunity that must be seized to allow space for negotiations, diplomacy, and constructive dialogue.

This represents the approach that Cairo has consistently advocated in order to resolve disputes peacefully and avoid the use of force, the foreign ministry said.

The statement underscored that such efforts would contribute to reducing tensions, ending the conflict, and achieving regional and international security and stability, while sparing the peoples of the region and the world further suffering.

Cairo also emphasized the importance of building on this step through full adherence to the cessation of military operations and respect for freedom of international navigation.

Egypt reiterated its support for all initiatives aimed at achieving peace and security, and affirmed its continued efforts, alongside Pakistan and Turkey, to work with regional and international partners to enhance stability in the region.

Rejecting Attacks on Gulf

Cairo stressed the paramount importance of respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan.

The statement reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any violations or infringements on these countries’ sovereignty, emphasizing that their security and stability are closely tied to Egypt’s own.

The ministry highlighted the need for ensuring that any future negotiated arrangements take into account the legitimate security concerns of Gulf states.

Egypt-US Talks

In a phone call early Wednesday, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s deep appreciation for the US step to Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East.

Abdelatty emphasized the importance of the move in giving the chance to diplomacy and launching a serious negotiation process between Washington and Tehran to resolve outstanding issues.

This would achieve regional and global security and stability and ensure freedom of global navigation, the foreign minister added.

For his part, Witkoff commended Egypt’s sincere efforts, alongside Pakistan and regional partners, to help secure a ceasefire and initiate negotiations.