Iran and Egypt foreign ministers discuss Yemen, regional de-escalation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a telephone conversation on Tuesday covering the latest developments in the region and the situation in Yemen, according to a statement from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said the two diplomats also addressed diplomatic efforts aimed at lowering tensions across the Middle East. Neither side announced any concrete agreement or follow-up meeting.

The call follows recent remarks by Araghchi, who condemned attacks that caused environmental destruction and called on the international community to address the issue. His ministry did not link those comments directly to Tuesday's discussion with Abdelatty, and no further details of the conversation were released.

Separately, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told the Shura Council on Tuesday that efforts must be stepped up to secure navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and to protect energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. He said regional security remains under threat, and noted that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to the Ras Laffan energy facility had disrupted a significant portion of Qatar's exports.

In Yemen, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said air defense units shot down a Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone belonging to Saudi forces over Saada Governorate. In a statement on his Telegram channel, Saree said the drone was targeted with appropriate weaponry while carrying out hostile missions in the area's airspace.

Also on Tuesday, four air attacks struck Yemen's Hodeidah and Amran governorates, with no reports of casualties or damage, Al Jazeera reported, citing local media. Yemen's Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said the strikes hit Kamaran Island and the al-Qanawis district in Hodeidah, as well as the Harf Sufyan district in Amran.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump said he does not believe China and Russia are providing assistance to Iran, writing on Truth Social that both countries have too much to lose from such involvement. He dismissed claims that Beijing and Moscow were helping Tehran, saying that even if they were, it would be at a very low level.