Abdel Rahim Ali: International Law Is Absent from the Scene… Egypt Has an Opportunity to Play an Important Role in Containing the Crisis
Sunday 01/March/2026 - 04:02 PM
As military strikes on Iran continue and tensions in the region escalate, questions are mounting regarding the position of international law, the limits of the international community’s influence, and the possibility of regional powers intervening to contain the crisis and prevent its expansion.
In this context, Dr. Abdel Rahim Ali, head of the Middle East Studies Center in Paris, outlined his perspective on the nature of the current phase, its implications for regional balances, and the prospects for diplomatic action—particularly in light of the role Egypt could play.
Dr. Abdel Rahim Ali stated that the strikes targeting Iran represent, in principle, a violation of international law. However, he noted that speaking about international law is no longer realistic under the current circumstances in the region, adding that this law was not present in what has been happening in Gaza, nor during the early days of the present war—reflecting an effective absence of the international legal system.
He added, during his interview with Extra News channel, that the world today is governed by balances of power, pointing to the existence of a close alliance between the United States and Israel, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This, he said, led the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to regard Israel—under Netanyahu’s leadership—as the principal center of tension in the region.
Regarding the possibility of ending the war, he explained that the international community currently lacks sufficient tools to impose a halt to the escalation. He indicated that Egypt is the regional state most capable of playing the role of mediator, given its balanced relations with all parties—whether Iran, the Arab states, the United States, or European countries—as well as the existence of communication channels and standing agreements with the Israeli side.
Abdel Rahim Ali noted that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi enjoys broad international relations and respect, which gives Egypt an opportunity to play an important role in attempting to contain the crisis. At the same time, he stressed the need to recognize the limits of this role amid the sharp military escalation and the state of agitation within Iranian security and political institutions, especially following the targeting of prominent leaders.
He affirmed that the recent strikes revealed a significant security and intelligence breach inside Iran, manifested in the targeting of high-ranking figures within a short period. This, he said, reflects the scale of infiltration affecting Iranian state institutions. He predicted that this situation could lead to confusion and possibly chaos in the coming period as internal security and political pressures intensify.
He explained that this phase may open the door to diplomatic interventions, particularly from Egypt, aimed at persuading the new Iranian leadership to return to the negotiating table—but on different foundations from the past, based on revising traditional positions, especially regarding uranium enrichment, the ballistic missile program, and relations with regional proxies.
Abdel Rahim Ali concluded his remarks by stressing that continued adherence to previous positions without reassessment will lead to the persistence of the crisis and the reproduction of escalation. He emphasized that the region is passing through a delicate phase and that the course of events in the coming period will be determined by developments within Iran and by the ability of the various parties to contain the escalation and return to a diplomatic track.
