RFE
13 Oct 2025, 17:49 GMT+10
As dozens of world leaders gather in Egypt on October 13 for a summit aimed at ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza, one country will be conspicuously absent.
Iran, a key backer of US-designated Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, has rejected a formal invitation to attend the meeting in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The decision has triggered criticism from some Iranian commentators, who labeled it as a missed opportunity to deescalate tensions with Washington and ease Tehrans international isolation.
Co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, the summit in Egypt comes days after Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-sponsored cease-fire and hostage release deal that has raised hopes of a negotiated end to the war.
SEE ALSO:
Iran's Cautious 'Yes' To Trump's Gaza Plan
Threaten And Sanction Us
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on X that Tehran, despite favoring diplomatic engagement, would not engage with counterparts who have attacked the Iranian People and continue to threaten and sanction us.
Araqchi was referring to the 12-day war in June, when the United States bombed Irans nuclear sites as part of an Israeli bombing campaign.
His comments failed to quell criticism from some Iranian political commentators.
Former senior lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said Irans no-show kills a serious opportunity for de-escalation.
Falahatpisheh added that the decision will further isolate Iran, which is under US and UN sanctions, on the international stage.
Others appealed directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all important matters of the state.
Act wise and do not let this opportunity slip away as in the past, said journalist Alireza Mostofi.
Conflict Or Compromise
But conservative commentators defended the decision.
Journalist Nezamoddin Musavi hailed President Masud Pezeshkian for not succumbing to the political temptations of certain individuals and opting instead to stay in Tehran.
Analyst Diako Hosseini maintained that Iran would be rewarding the United States for the June bombing campaign if it took part in the summit.
Ata Mohamed-Tabriz, a Spain-based analyst, said some political factions in Iran prefer to continue the countrys confrontation with the West.
My view is that the Islamic republic believes conflict serves its interests more than entering a compromise that would cost it concessions, he told RFE/RLs Radio Farda.
Mohamed-Tabriz added that Tehran has effectively decided it does not want to be in the Western bloc and intends to oppose it and absorb the costs.
With reporting by Roya Karimi Majd of RFE/RLs Radio Farda
Get a daily dose of Iran Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.
More InformationHONG KONG: Long queues snaked outside Hong Kong's gold shops this week as residents rushed to cash in on a historic price surge that...
NEW DELHI, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport, giving India's financial capital...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Halloween may look a little less sweet for U.S. chocolate lovers this year. A new report from Wells Fargo's...
STUTTGART, Germany: German luxury carmaker Porsche reported a drop in global sales for the first nine months of 2025, with a sharp...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: As 2025 draws to a close, one viral TikTok trend is helping people refocus on their goals, from fitness to...
LOS ANGELES, California: California has officially designated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, as a statewide holiday, becoming...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The United Nations will begin a sweeping reduction of its global peacekeeping force in the coming months,...
Lebanese authorities announced on Friday the dismantling of what they describe as an Israeli intelligence network allegedly planning...
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza on Friday, the military said, hours after Israel's Cabinet approved a...
BENGALURU/HYDERABAD, India: Tighter U.S. immigration policies, particularly those targeting the H-1B skilled-worker visa, are reshaping...
As U.S. President Donald Trump surely intended, his 20-point Gaza plan succeeded in upstaging calls by many other world leaders at...
As dozens of world leaders gather in Egypt on October 13 for a summit aimed at ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza, one country...
