Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, emphasizing that only he has the power to stop the ongoing war involving Iran. Speaking at the Egypt Energy Show 2026 in Cairo, Sisi urged Trump to intervene, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict in the Gulf region.
“I tell President Trump: nobody can stop the war in our region in the Gulf but you,” Sisi said. “Please, Mr. President, please. Please help us stop the war. You are capable of doing so.”
Egypt, a longstanding recipient of U.S. military aid and support from affluent Gulf nations, has condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states and actively pursued diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war.
In his address, Sisi warned of dual shocks to the global economy caused by the war: supply shortages and rising prices, the full impact of which has yet to be realized. He expressed particular concern about attacks targeting energy infrastructure, including production sites and refineries, which could have severe consequences for fuel prices worldwide.
Market analysts have suggested that oil prices could surge beyond $200 per barrel, a scenario Sisi described as a realistic possibility rather than an exaggeration. Additionally, he highlighted an impending crisis in global food supplies, pointing to disruptions in fertilizer exports that could drastically increase costs.
“Wealthy countries might be able to absorb this, but for middle-income and fragile economies, it could have a very, very severe impact on their stability,” Sisi noted.
Egypt and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since the 1979 peace treaty that returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt after Israel’s 1967 occupation. Despite this, their relationship is often described as a cold peace, with Cairo remaining cautious about the potential displacement of Palestinians from Gaza into Egyptian territory.
Sisi credited Trump with helping to end the Gaza conflict, recalling that the former U.S. president had stated only he could halt that war before a ceasefire was reached in November in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The ongoing war involving Iran has disrupted the global economy’s growth trajectory, as noted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In a related development, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi condemned Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on regional energy infrastructure, calling on the international community to safeguard vital maritime routes. Speaking virtually at the same conference, he described Iran’s actions as blatant violations of international law and direct threats to global energy security.
The GCC, comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, has endured multiple drone and missile strikes. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that previously handled about 20% of the world’s oil supply, has further strained global energy markets.
