Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called on US President Donald Trump to stop the war with Iran, saying only he can do it. This was reported by Reuters. "Please, Mr. President, please. Please help us stop the war. You are capable of doing it," he said.
Egypt, a recipient of US military aid and support from wealthy Gulf states, has condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states and encouraged diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider regional war.
The war would cause a double shock of supply shortages and price hikes, the full extent of which has yet to be felt, Sisi warned. "I fear that attacks on energy facilities, whether they are production facilities or refineries, will have very serious consequences for the global economy and fuel prices," he said. He said the price of oil could exceed $200 a barrel.
Egypt's president warned of a looming crisis in global food supplies, noting that disruptions to fertilizer exports would have a huge impact on prices. "Rich countries may be able to absorb this, but for middle-income economies and fragile economies, this could have a very, very serious impact on their stability," he added.
Egypt and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since a 1979 peace treaty. However, relations between the two countries are often called a "cold peace" and Cairo has long feared that Palestinians could be forced to cross the border from Gaza.
Earlier, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi called on the international community to protect vital sea lanes, condemning Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its attacks on regional energy infrastructure.