The Iranian presidency announced yesterday (Sunday) its refusal to accept the official invitation extended to President Masoud Pezeshkian to participate in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit,” scheduled for today (Monday) in the Egyptian resort city on the Red Sea coast, to sign a ceasefire agreement for the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

The summit, which will bring together more than 20 world leaders and is chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, aims to sign a joint declaration focusing on calm, humanitarian aid, and establishing a multilateral mechanism to manage the post-war phase in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 67,000 Palestinians over two years.

The invitation to Iran was a rare step by the Trump administration, seeking to expand the participation of Islamic countries in the summit to enhance its legitimacy. However, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran had no plans to attend, noting that the refusal comes amid escalating UN sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program, recently reimposed after failed postponement attempts.

The Egyptian presidency indicated that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip, promote efforts to establish peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new chapter of regional security and stability. The Egyptian presidency spokesperson explained that the summit comes in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision to achieve peace in the region and his earnest efforts to end conflicts worldwide.