The Significance of the Recent Meeting Between Pezeshkian and Sisi in Cairo at the D-8 Summit

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ByRasanah

The recent meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the D-8 Summit in Cairo on December 19, 20024,  marks a significant moment in regional diplomacy. The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is made up of eight Muslim developing countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye).

This encounter reflects broader efforts to recalibrate relations between Tehran and Cairo, two pivotal players in the Islamic world, against the backdrop of shared challenges and evolving geopolitical dynamics. 

The meeting between the Iranian and Egyptian presidents marked the first encounter in 12 years between presidents from the two countries. The previous meeting between an Iranian and Egyptian president took place on August 30, 2012, between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Morsi on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran. During the meeting in Tehran, no plans were made for opening an embassy or resuming full diplomatic relations. At this time, Morsi’s attendance at the NAM summit in Tehran was the first time an Egyptian head of state had set foot in Iran since the two countries broke off diplomatic ties in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution. They have since maintained special-interest sections in their respective capitals.

Indeed, relations between Iran and Egypt have been marked by decades of mistrust, ideological divergence, and intermittent attempts at reconciliation. Tensions between the two countries deepened when President Anwar Sadat granted refuge to the deposed Iranian shah in Egypt, where he later died and was buried in 1980. Relations further deteriorated when Iran named a street in its capital after Khalid al-Islambouli, an Egyptian army lieutenant involved in the assassination of Sadat in 1981. Tensions persisted throughout the 1980s, fueled by Egypt’s support for Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. In the 1990s, both countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations, though limited to the level of chargé d’affaires. Additionally, in December 2003, a significant meeting occurred between then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami, marking the first encounter between the leaders of Egypt and Iran after the 1979 revolution.

Moreover, Egypt’s friendly relations with the Gulf states and its historic peace treaty with Israel have often clashed with Iran’s revolutionary ideology and its support for non-state actors in the region. However, recent regional shifts — including normalization agreements between Arab states and Iran, and Egypt’s efforts to diversify its diplomatic engagements — have opened avenues for dialogue.

The D-8 Summit provided a neutral platform for Tehran and Cairo to engage in substantive dialogue. Pezeshkian’s remarks before his departure underscored Iran’s vision of fostering unity among Islamic countries to counter external pressures and perceived threats from the West and Israel. “As relations between Islamic countries deepen, the plots against our country and other Islamic countries will be neutralized,” the Iranian president said at the airport before his departure to Cairo. His participation highlighted Iran’s commitment to multilateralism within the Muslim world, despite ongoing tensions with key Arab states in the context of a post-Assad Syria.

The meeting signals a potential thaw in relations between the two countries that have historically been at odds. As regional actors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran, Egypt’s diplomatic encounter with Tehran could indicate a broader shift toward reducing tensions in the region. Both Iran and Egypt face economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions, inflation, and declining foreign currency reserves. Enhanced bilateral cooperation, particularly within the D-8 framework, could facilitate trade and investment opportunities, offering mutual economic benefits.

With ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Syria, Tehran and Cairo share an interest in addressing instability that threatens regional security. While their approaches to these crises differ, dialogue could pave the way for coordinated efforts to manage tensions and reduce external interference. Both leaders expressed concerns about external actors undermining regional sovereignty. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi  at the D-8 ministerial meeting denounced Israeli and US policies in the region. He said that “the forces of the Zionist regime should immediately leave the occupied territories in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.” The Iranian foreign minister also met his Pakistani and Egyptian counterparts on December 18. The meeting between Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, also took place on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the D-8.

While the meetings between representatives of Egypt and Iran are a positive step, several obstacles could hinder progress. Iran’s support for non-state actors in regional conflicts could complicate its outreach to Egypt, considering Cairo’s historical support for state sovereignty and opposition to Islamist and sectarian groups. Nevertheless, Tehran and Cairo have the potential to strengthen their regional cooperation, particularly considering the growing influence of Türkiye in Syria and their mutual concerns about Syria’s future. However, prospects for future cooperation in Syria might still be hampered by Iran’s strategy of exploiting sectarian tensions in the war-torn country.

Overall, the meeting between Pezeshkian and his Egyptian counterpart at the D-8 Summit holds symbolic and strategic significance. It represents a potential pivot toward greater cooperation between Iran and Egypt, reflecting a broader trend of regional de-escalation. While challenges persist, the dialogue initiated in Cairo could serve as a foundation for addressing shared concerns and fostering unity within the Muslim world.

On the sidelines of the D-8 Summit, the Egyptian president also engaged in discussions with his counterparts on ways to enhance economic and political cooperation. The statement issued at the conclusion of the summit not only pledged to deepen existing levels of collaboration but also emphasized plans to expand the group’s membership. Established in 1997 to promote South-South cooperation, the D-8 has already attracted interest from Azerbaijan, a close ally of Türkiye, which has announced its intention to join. The D-8 platform may thus emerge as a critical venue for advancing these goals, demonstrating the importance of multilateralism in navigating a complex geopolitical landscape. This regional platform could contribute to de-escalating tensions not only between Iran and Egypt but also between Iran and other Arab states, especially against the backdrop of the rapid developments in Syria.

Rasanah
Rasanah
Editorial Team