El-Sisi presses Trump to halt Iran war, warns oil could breach $200
Cairo— Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene to stop the ongoing Iran war, warning that escalating attacks on energy infrastructure could drive global oil prices above $200 per barrel and destabilise vulnerable economies.
Speaking at the Egypt Energy Show 2026 in Cairo, Sisi said only Trump had the capacity to end the conflict in the Gulf region, appealing directly for U.S. leadership to prevent further escalation.
“I tell President Trump: nobody can stop the war in our region in the Gulf but you,” Sisi said. “Please help us stop the war. You are capable of doing so.”
Sisi warned that continued targeting of oil production facilities and refineries could trigger simultaneous supply disruptions and price surges, with consequences yet to be fully realised.
He said concerns among market observers that oil could exceed $200 a barrel were credible.“I fear that targeting energy facilities, whether production or refineries, will have very serious repercussions for the global economy and fuel prices,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint that previously handled about a fifth of global oil flows, has been disrupted amid the conflict, raising concerns over sustained supply constraints.
Beyond energy markets, Sisi highlighted risks to global food security, citing potential disruptions to fertiliser exports that could drive up agricultural costs and strain supply chains.
“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,” he said.
Egypt, a longstanding recipient of U.S. military aid and Gulf financial support, has condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states while advocating diplomatic efforts to avoid a broader regional war.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said Iranian actions, including attacks on energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, constituted a violation of international law and a direct threat to global energy security.
Addressing the conference virtually, he urged the international community to safeguard maritime corridors, as GCC member states Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain face ongoing drone and missile attacks.
Sisi also referenced Trump’s role in ending the Gaza war, noting that the U.S. president had been instrumental in securing a ceasefire agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.
