Key facts
- Egypt condemned Iran's attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
- Cairo reiterated its full solidarity with the three nations.
- Egypt stated the attacks are a flagrant violation of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation.
- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated diplomacy requires conducive conditions.
- Baghaei added that the 'Zionist regime' damages the diplomatic process through ceasefire violations.
- Mehr news agency reported an explosion near Iran's Qeshm island.
- Pakistan's UN ambassador warned of a 'cycle of violence' in the Middle East.
- Saudi Arabia launched its second national carrier, Riyadh Air.
Egypt has condemned Iran's attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, expressing full solidarity with the three nations and calling the actions a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security. The Egyptian statement emphasized a categorical rejection of actions undermining state sovereignty and stressed the importance of de-escalation and international law.
These developments occur amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Hamas accused Israel of attempting to remove landmarks from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning of escalation. Meanwhile, Israel reported killing two Hamas finance officials in Gaza and conducted drone and air strikes in southern Lebanon, ordering evacuations from two towns there.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that the US is undermining diplomacy and that Iran's armed forces will not hesitate to defend the country. He also criticized the "Zionist regime" for damaging the diplomatic process through ceasefire violations. An explosion was reported near Iran's Qeshm island, with Mehr news agency suggesting it was a response to US attacks.
Analyst Elijah Magnier warned that the "tit-for-tat" exchanges between the US and Iran risk miscalculation and could spiral into a larger conflict. Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute, noted that Iranian officials are signaling a response to any attack on their country. Pakistan's UN ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed deep concern over the "renewed conflict" and warned of a "cycle of violence."
In a separate development, Saudi Arabia launched its second national carrier, Riyadh Air, despite regional economic uncertainty and delivery setbacks from Boeing.