Iran Accuses EU of Hypocrisy, Egypt Calls for Dialogue

Tehran (TDI): Iran on Saturday accused the European Union of hypocrisy over its criticism of Tehran’s human rights record, while Egypt intensified diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected comments by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying the bloc could not claim to defend human rights while supporting what he described as military attacks on Iran.

In a post on X, Baghaei accused the European Union of providing logistical and technical support for attacks that targeted civilians and critical infrastructure, alleging the bloc had failed to condemn alleged war crimes or express sympathy for Iranian civilian casualties. “This is not merely a loss of credibility. It is the banality of evil and the purest form of hypocrisy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate telephone conversations with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, urging an immediate halt to military escalation and renewed diplomatic engagement.

According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty stressed that dialogue and political solutions were essential to restoring regional stability and preventing the conflict from expanding. He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, describing secure maritime routes as vital for global trade and supply chains.

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Separately, Iranian authorities said they had rescued all 28 Indian crew members aboard the Mozambique-flagged tanker DISHA after it came under attack near Iranian territorial waters.

Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said the vessel sent a distress signal before Iranian coastguard teams launched a rescue operation. He added that all crew members were safe and in good health, while cautioning against increased foreign military presence in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it would further heighten regional tensions.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported an unspecified security incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, advising commercial vessels to remain vigilant as investigations continue.

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The developments came as US President Donald Trump confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next Tuesday, while saying the United States remained open to diplomacy with Iran despite ongoing military operations.

Trump said Washington was still engaged in talks with Tehran but warned that the US was prepared to intensify military action if negotiations failed, as the US-Iran conflict entered its fifth month.