As dozens of world leaders collect in Egypt on October 13 for a summit geared toward ending the devastating two-year battle in Gaza, one nation can be conspicuously absent.
Iran, a key backer of US-designated Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, has rejected a proper invitation to attend the assembly within the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The resolution has triggered criticism from some Iranian commentators, who labeled it as a missed alternative to deescalate tensions with Washington and ease Tehran’s worldwide 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 launch deal that has raised hopes of a negotiated finish to the battle.
‘Threaten And Sanction Us’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on X that Tehran, regardless of “favoring diplomatic engagement,” wouldn’t “have interaction with counterparts who’ve attacked the Iranian People and proceed to threaten and sanction us.”
Araqchi was referring to the 12-day battle in June, when the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear websites as a part of an Israeli bombing marketing campaign.
His feedback didn’t quell criticism from some Iranian political commentators.
Former senior lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh mentioned Iran’s no-show “kills a critical alternative for de-escalation.”
Falahatpisheh added that the choice will additional isolate Iran, which is underneath US and UN sanctions, on the worldwide stage.
Others appealed on to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate say on all necessary issues of the state.
“Act smart and don’t let this chance slip away as up to now,” mentioned journalist Alireza Mostofi.
Conflict Or Compromise
But conservative commentators defended the choice.
Journalist Nezamoddin Musavi hailed President Masud Pezeshkian for “not succumbing to the political temptations of sure people” and opting as an alternative to remain in Tehran.
Analyst Diako Hosseini maintained that Iran could be “rewarding the United States” for the June bombing marketing campaign if it took half within the summit.
Ata Mohamed-Tabriz, a Spain-based analyst, mentioned some political factions in Iran favor to proceed the nation’s confrontation with the West.
“My view is that the Islamic republic believes battle serves its pursuits greater than getting into a compromise that might value it concessions,” he informed RFE/RL’s Radio Farda.
Mohamed-Tabriz added that Tehran has successfully determined it “doesn’t need to be within the Western bloc” and intends to oppose it and soak up the prices.
With reporting by Roya Karimi Majd of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda
