Relationship dossier
Egypt
Iran
Relationship assessment
Limited diplomatic ties and cautious engagement amid persistent regional differences
Egypt toward Iran
-15Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 and has not restored full ties. Egyptian leaders have nevertheless engaged Iranian counterparts, including President el-Sisi’s meeting with President Raisi in 2023, reflecting selective diplomatic outreach.
Iran toward Egypt
-15Iran has maintained limited diplomatic channels with Egypt despite the absence of full relations since 1980. Iranian presidents have taken part in senior-level contacts with Egyptian leaders, including the 2023 meeting between President Raisi and President el-Sisi.
Overall relationship
-10The relationship combines a long-running absence of full diplomatic relations with periodic high-level engagement and limited diplomatic channels. These contacts show some scope for rapprochement, while enduring differences over regional policy have prevented a broader partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Egypt and Iran have had no full diplomatic relations since Egypt severed ties in 1980, but have maintained limited channels and pursued periodic political engagement. Senior-level contacts, including a meeting between President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and President Ebrahim Raisi in 2023, indicate cautious efforts to improve ties. Persistent differences over regional policy continue to constrain rapprochement.
Areas of tension
- The countries have not restored full diplomatic relations since Egypt severed ties in 1980.
- Differences over regional policy have constrained efforts to improve relations.
Key developments
Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Iran.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met President Ebrahim Raisi, marking a high-level contact amid efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and practical work of the countries’ interests sections are unclear.
- The extent to which recent political contacts have produced durable bilateral cooperation is unclear.