Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and end the conflict in Iran, asserting that only Trump had the power to halt the war. He also cautioned that fears of oil prices exceeding $200 per barrel were realistic and not exaggerated.
Speaking at the Egypt Energy Show 2026 in Cairo, Sisi said, “I tell President Trump: nobody can stop the war in our region in the Gulf but you. Please, Mr. President, please. Please help us stop the war. You are capable of doing so.”
Egypt, a longstanding recipient of U.S. military assistance and support from wealthy Gulf states, has condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab nations and has promoted diplomatic measures to prevent escalation into a broader regional conflict.
Sisi warned that the conflict could create dual shocks of supply shortages and surging prices, the full impact of which has yet to be realized. He said targeting energy infrastructure, whether production facilities or refineries, could have severe consequences for the global economy and fuel markets. “Market analysts have suggested that oil could surpass $200 a barrel, and this is not an exaggeration,” he added.
He also highlighted potential crises in global food supplies, stressing that disruptions to fertilizer exports could dramatically affect prices. “While wealthy nations may absorb these effects, middle-income and vulnerable economies could face serious instability,” Sisi noted.
Regarding regional dynamics, Egypt maintains a diplomatic relationship with Israel following the 1979 peace treaty that returned the Sinai Peninsula. However, the relationship is often described as a cold peace, with Cairo cautious that Palestinians in Gaza might be displaced across its borders.
Sisi referenced Trump’s role in ending the Gaza conflict, reiterating that only the U.S. president could have achieved a ceasefire agreement, which was eventually signed in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.
Separately, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, condemned Iranian attacks on regional energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, calling them violations of international law and a threat to global energy security.
Addressing the conference virtually, Albudaiwi warned that Iran’s actions posed a serious threat to global security. He highlighted that the attacks on energy facilities, coupled with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which previously carried around one-fifth of the world’s oil exports could severely destabilize global energy supplies.
The Gulf Cooperation Council members most affected by these developments include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.