Gulf States and Egypt Coordinate to De-escalate Iran Conflict

A coalition of Middle Eastern leaders coordinated a series of diplomatic efforts on July 11 and 12, 2026, to stabilize the region following Iranian missile strikes against Jordan and an attack on the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat near the Strait of Hormuz. These events occurred amidst a broader military campaign launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28 and reports of Iranian targeting of civilian sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, concluded the diplomatic surge with a visit to El Alamein, Egypt, on July 12 for talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. They addressed the security concerns of Gulf states, maritime security, and the impact of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

Preceding the summit, foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE held a series of telephone consultations. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan coordinated with his Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts, while Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan focused on restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Across all discussions, the leaders emphasized that dialogue is the sole means of resolving crises and urgently called for the implementation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum to prevent further military escalation. The officials also reaffirmed their rejection of Palestinian displacement and called for the full delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank.