In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Ahmad Borvayeh stated: Currently, because the Egyptians want to play a more effective role in issues related to Gaza and peace in the region, they are seeking to mediate effectively in regional developments.
Referring to Egypt’s limitations, he said: “This issue makes mediation and its impact depend on the space that different countries allow for Cairo.” For example, in the discussion of Iran-US negotiations, the maneuvering space Americans or Iranians give to Egyptians to play a role will affect the effectiveness of these mediations.
In response to the question of whether Egypt’s mediation is more of a tool for crisis management or a long-term policy, Borvayeh explained: “Regarding Iran, Egypt has both goals in mind. Because the Egyptians know that if the Zionist regime’s military attacks on Iran are repeated, Egypt will suffer, and this will cause the US and the Zionist regime to have a greater role in the region, and their pressure on Gaza will increase.”
This expert added: “The weakening of Iran is undesirable for Cairo because the balance of power in the region is disrupted. Therefore, managing this crisis is a very high priority for them.”
According to Borvayeh, in the long term, Egypt also seeks to expand and stabilize its regional role. Increasing their regional role is very important to them for various reasons. Therefore, they seek to restore this regional role and expand their options at the regional and global levels.
The Egyptian affairs expert, in response to the question of why Cairo has decided to play an active role as a mediator towards Tehran at this juncture, said: “Part of it goes back to the closeness of relations between Iran and Egypt. On the other hand, Cairo’s desire must also be considered, as they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity that arose. It seems that the Westerners had no objection either, and the convergence of these three issues caused the Egyptians to play a more active role.”
Regarding the close relations between Tel Aviv and Cairo and its impact on Egypt playing an independent regional role, he said: “Egypt’s strategic choice since Anwar Sadat has been to reconcile with the Zionist regime, and they do not intend to deviate from this strategic choice. Therefore, naturally, any regional role that Egypt plays will be in line with not harming these foundations of its foreign policy, and this very issue also causes their considerations to be taken into account by the Egyptians.”
Borvayeh added: “However, it must be noted that due to its civilizational and political history, and the competitions and danger it feels from the Zionist regime, Egypt is not satisfied with the Zionist regime becoming the superior power in the region.”
The Egyptian affairs expert, in response to the question of whether Egypt, in playing a mediation role, is also seeking to improve its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, said: “Egypt’s mediation is largely carried out with the green light of the UAE and Saudi Arabia; because these countries are also currently afraid of the consequences of the crisis in relations between Iran and the West and Iran and the US getting out of control, and also Saudi Arabia does not want the regional balance to be disrupted in such a way that the Israeli regime, with the help of the US, becomes the main power in the region, to the extent that these countries are completely forced to go under the domination of the Zionist regime.”
Finally, Borvayeh, explaining the objectives of Egypt’s approach in mediation and what similarities or differences it has with other countries in the Persian Gulf region, explained: “Egypt’s diplomacy is more focused on the issue of Palestine and resolving the Gaza issue, while of course they are also pursuing their own goals in improving their regional standing. At the same time, they see this role-playing as a tool for getting closer to Iran, and perhaps this mediation is even a reason to improve their relations with Tehran.”