Meanwhile, former IRGC commander summoned to court over Hezbollah pager claims, Iranian journalist praises Lebanon’s internet, and THAAD deployment is downplayed

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed rising tensions in the region with Egyptian officials in Cairo during the first such visit by a top Iranian official to the North African nation in around a decade.

Tensions are high in anticipation of the nature of an expected Israeli attack on Iran in retaliation for Iran's missile attack on Oct. 1. That followed a rapidly spiralling conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday, Egypt's presidency said in a statement. The meeting focused on regional developments, with al-Sisi reiterating Egypt's call to avoid the expansion of conflict and the need to halt escalation to prevent a full-scale regional war.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo on Thursday as part of a Middle East tour to persuade regional US allies to put pressure on Washington to limit the scope of Israel's possible retaliatory attack.