Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate calls with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the ministry said in a statement, focusing on proposals aimed at reducing hostilities across the region.

The discussions come amid intensified diplomatic engagement by regional actors seeking to contain the conflict, which has disrupted energy flows and heightened geopolitical risks.

Turkiye and Pakistan have also taken on intermediary roles, with Islamabad recently hosting talks on de-escalation measures and proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and gas shipments.

Egypt’s outreach reflects growing concern among regional powers over the potential for further escalation and the economic impact of prolonged disruptions, particularly on energy markets and trade routes.

Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi describing Trump’s warning as destabilizing and vowing retaliation. “The gates of hell will open for you,” he said, echoing the language used by the U.S. president in recent statements.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said multiple fires broke out at the Borouge Petrochemicals facility in Ruwais after debris from intercepted projectiles struck the site. Operations at the plant, a joint venture involving Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., were suspended pending damage assessment, with no injuries reported.

The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defence systems were actively engaging missile and drone threats, without specifying their origin. In Bahrain, Bapco Energies reported that a storage tank caught fire following an attack, though the blaze was later contained and no casualties were recorded.

In Kuwait, a fire erupted at the Shuwaikh oil sector complex, which houses key energy infrastructure including the headquarters of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. State media reported material damage and the shutdown of two power and water units, with no casualties.

The Israeli military said missiles launched from Iran targeted its territory, while also reporting a separate missile fired from Yemen, marking the fifth such launch since the start of the conflict. Air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats.

The escalation underscores the widening scope of a conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28 and has since spread across the region. Iran has maintained restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, while targeting economic infrastructure in Gulf states it associates with the U.S.-Israeli campaign.

Trump reiterated his ultimatum in a post on Truth Social, warning that time was running out for Iran to comply. He also released a video referencing strikes in Tehran that he said killed multiple Iranian military leaders, though he did not provide details on timing or verification.

Separately, Iranian media reported that U.S.-Israeli strikes in Ardabil province in the country’s northwest killed three people and wounded three others, citing a local official.

Iran’s military command said Iraqi vessels would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite broader restrictions, describing Iraq as exempt from measures imposed on what it termed “enemy countries.”

The rescued officer was the second member of a two-person crew aboard an F-15 aircraft that Iran said it had shot down using its air defense systems. U.S. officials did not provide operational details of the recovery mission, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump confirmed the recovery in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing the operation as one of the most complex search-and-rescue efforts conducted by U.S. forces in hostile territory. He said the airman, a senior officer, had been injured but was in stable condition and under monitoring.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory,” Trump wrote, adding that the operation was carried out without U.S. casualties.The first crew member had already been recovered earlier, according to a Reuters report on Friday.

The aircraft was brought down amid ongoing hostilities between U.S. and Iranian forces following the outbreak of war on February 28.The developments come as Washington escalates its demands on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor that typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Iran’s effective closure of the waterway has contributed to a growing energy crisis and heightened volatility in global markets.Trump reiterated that Iran faces a narrowing window to comply, stating that less than 48 hours remained before potential U.S. action.

His recent messaging has alternated between references to possible diplomatic progress and explicit threats of large-scale military strikes, including against Iran’s power infrastructure.The conflict has already resulted in thousands of deaths and significant disruption across the region, with mounting concerns over long-term economic damage and supply chain instability linked to restricted energy flows through the Gulf.

Iran has not publicly commented on the rescue operation but has previously stated that it deployed newly developed air defense systems in targeting U.S. aircraft operating in its airspace.

The Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from Murmansk, had been adrift since early March following what Moscow said was a strike by Ukrainian naval drones. The vessel, with no crew onboard, eventually approached the Libyan port of Zuwara.

The Tripoli-based government said the coast guard successfully moved the vessel away from the coastline, with operations overseen by maritime and security authorities. Video footage released by official channels showed a naval vessel towing the tanker with heavy cables.

National Oil Corporation has been tasked with unloading the cargo and coordinating with foreign partners, including Russian and Maltese authorities, to ensure maritime safety across the Mediterranean.

Officials said there had been no leakage from the tanker so far, and initial assessments indicated no immediate environmental danger.

European concerns over spill riskItaly, France, Spain and other southern European Union members had earlier warned the European Commission that the drifting tanker posed an “imminent and serious risk” of a major ecological disaster if left unmanaged.

Libyan authorities said the situation was under control, with coast guard officials assuring residents in coastal areas, including Zuwara and Sabratha, that efforts were ongoing to secure the vessel.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said the drones that struck the tanker were launched from Libyan territory, though neither Ukraine nor Libya has commented on the claim.

Authorities have not disclosed the tanker’s final destination as operations continue to stabilize the vessel and mitigate any potential risks to shipping and the marine environment.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said an estimated 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran and 1 million in Lebanon, highlighting the scale of the crisis as needs continue to rise.

UNHCR said it requires an additional $61 million in Lebanon alone to support around 600,000 displaced people over the next three months. The agency, which cut 30% of its workforce last year due to funding shortages, warned that declining global humanitarian financing is undermining its ability to respond effectively.

“The drop in global humanitarian funding is having a major impact at the very moment as needs are rising sharply,” the agency said, adding that reduced staffing and resources are limiting operations as displacement accelerates.

The World Food Programme warned that nearly 45 million more people worldwide could face acute hunger if the conflict continues into mid-year and oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.

Carl Skau, the agency’s chief operating officer, said the war’s economic ripple effects would disproportionately hit vulnerable populations already struggling to meet basic food needs. “Without an adequately funded humanitarian response, it could spell catastrophe for millions already on the edge,” he said.

Aid groups also pointed to the financial cost of the conflict, noting that the United States spent $11.3 billion in the first week alone, as a contrast to the funding shortfalls facing humanitarian operations.

They warned that without immediate donor support, the combination of displacement, rising food insecurity and economic disruption could deepen the global humanitarian crisis in the months ahead.