China trusts the efforts of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, under the leadership of Major General Hassan Rashad, to spearhead both covert and overt mediation efforts between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the United States to resolve and defuse the current military crisis. These Egyptian intelligence efforts align with President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative, which advocates resolving conflicts through dialogue. China believes that Egyptian mediation can be an effective tool for containing the IRGC’s influence without direct confrontation with Washington. Therefore, China is providing support to Egypt and its intelligence service to ensure the success of mediation efforts between the United States and the IRGC, particularly given the existing intelligence partnership between Egypt and China. The period between 2025 and 2026 witnessed a strategic shift in cooperation between the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate and the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
This included technological and intelligence partnerships aimed at enhancing Egypt’s independent reconnaissance and defense capabilities. These moves place Cairo at the heart of international diplomatic efforts, with Major General Hassan Rashad viewed by Beijing as the key architect of these complex mediations, which enjoy the acceptance and support of major powers like China, as well as the parties to the conflict seeking to avoid a full-blown confrontation. Hence, Chinese diplomatic reports and actions underscore the crucial role currently played by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, under the leadership of Major General Hassan Rashad, in regional mediation efforts, specifically between the United States and Iran (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), to defuse the current military crisis.
In this context, China welcomes Egyptian mediation efforts between Iran and the United States through the opening of secret Egyptian communication channels between Washington and Tehran. Chinese intelligence circles also encourage the Egyptian intelligence service’s role in opening a back channel with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Especially after Egypt proposed a five-day truce as part of a regional effort to halt the military escalation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. This was achieved through Egyptian intelligence coordination with the Trump administration, with Chinese support. Major General Hassan Rashad, head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, is leading these efforts to de-escalate tensions between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Washington, in coordination with the American side itself. China welcomes this, particularly after President Trump’s advisors expressed their appreciation for Egypt’s leading role in trying to avoid total chaos in the region. Therefore, China is providing strategic support to Egypt, expressing great confidence in the efforts of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate and considering it the cornerstone for achieving comprehensive regional stability, given the convergence of Egyptian and Chinese visions. Here, the Chinese side agrees with Egypt on the necessity of a diplomatic solution and the rejection of military escalation. Beijing supports Major General Hassan Rashad’s role not only in the Iranian file but also in the post-war arrangements in Gaza.
China prefers de-escalation efforts (whether covert or overt) with Iran, facilitated by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, to reduce tensions. However, it is wary that overt mediation could lead to increased US pressure on Iran, potentially destabilizing the balance of power that China seeks to maintain. Beijing views the Egyptian intelligence service as a cornerstone of regional stability at present. Intelligence, military, defense, and security circles in Beijing welcome the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate’s establishment of a secret channel of communication with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, aimed at mitigating regional escalation and protecting Arab national security from the dangers of rising tensions. Beijing welcomes any efforts to reduce the risk of direct confrontation that could affect energy supplies and considers Egypt’s role as a significant regional mediator, thus relieving China of the direct burden and allowing it to remain a supportive diplomatic force behind the scenes, as required by the current circumstances of competition with Washington. China views the Egyptian intelligence service’s role as complementary to its efforts with Iran, given Beijing’s continued importance as a key player due to its economic and strategic ties with Iran (particularly with the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard). Therefore, China supports Egyptian intelligence mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran (including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard), favoring diplomatic solutions that promote stability in the Middle East and serve its oil interests. Beijing sees Egyptian mediation, whether public or covert, as a contributing factor aligned with its vision of common regional security for reducing tensions.
These Egyptian intelligence moves to resolve the current crisis following the US military escalation against Tehran coincide with broader Chinese efforts to end serious crises in the Middle East and halt the unjustified US military escalation against Iranian targets. This aligns with China’s ambition to achieve lasting stability in maritime traffic and Gulf security. Chinese state media have repeatedly praised the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate’s ability to coordinate between conflicting parties, considering its role a guarantee for the success of future security and political arrangements. China also highly values ​​and supports the efforts of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, particularly the role of its director, Major General Hassan Rashad, in regional mediation and de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. This Chinese perspective stems from Beijing’s desire to see diplomatic solutions led by influential regional powers like Egypt, especially given the anticipated military escalation between Iran and the United States in 2025 and 2026. To that end, China supports Egyptian intelligence efforts to bolster regional mediation between Iran and the United States to ensure the stability of its investments, particularly in the oil and energy sector. China is the largest importer of Iranian oil and uses this influence to push for de-escalation, especially given Beijing’s dispatch of envoys to the Middle East to calm tensions in the region. Iran leverages this partnership with China (which includes billions of dollars in Chinese investments) to seek Chinese support in its negotiations, while Egypt acts as an effective mediator trusted by the various parties amidst heightened tensions and an unprecedented US military escalation against Iran.
The most prominent features of the Chinese perspective on these efforts by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate are China’s support for Egyptian intelligence efforts to bolster regional mediation between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Washington. China welcomes any efforts aimed at defusing crises through dialogue and negotiations and considers Egypt a strategic partner whose vision aligns with its own regarding the necessity of halting hostilities and returning to the diplomatic track. Here, the strategic visions of Egypt and China converge, as both countries share the view that it is essential to prevent a slide into a full-blown war that would harm energy security and global trade, as well as undermine China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects. Therefore, China supports the Egyptian role in opening channels of communication (whether public or secret) with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to bridge the gap with Washington. China prefers the Egyptian model of participating in collective solutions originating from within the region, rather than imposed security solutions, and works through its own channels in parallel with Egypt to enhance regional stability.
Chinese intelligence and military think tanks and circles are analyzing all the secret talks led by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed at de-escalation. The goal of opening secret communication channels between the Egyptian intelligence service and the IRGC is to prevent the region from entering a dark tunnel (especially given the ongoing threats from the Trump administration) and to calm the situation to avoid wider confrontations. The Chinese welcome the Egyptian intelligence service’s efforts to manage these communications between the IRGC and Washington, whether openly and directly or covertly, to ensure the protection of Arab, Gulf, and regional national security. These circles in Beijing believe that the Egyptian intelligence service’s efforts have succeeded in postponing a potential US military escalation against Iran for several days, while continuous efforts continue to reach sustainable solutions. Especially given China’s persistent efforts to stabilize waterways (like the Strait of Hormuz) and enhance regional security, including the security of the Arabian Gulf, these joint Chinese-Egyptian efforts coincide with attempts to spare the Arab region the risks of military tensions resulting from regional and international threats.
Therefore, China favors Egypt’s role as a mediator between Iran and the United States to ensure the stability of energy supplies, prevent the escalation of the conflict, and strengthen regional coordination to end the war. Chinese and Egyptian efforts converge in promoting stability in the Middle East through diplomatic means. Beijing sees Cairo as a strategic partner capable of containing tensions and overcoming differences peacefully. China’s main motivations for supporting the Egyptian role are as follows: protecting economic and energy interests. China seeks to secure its oil imports, especially after the current war demonstrated a threat to Iranian oil supplies to China and a potential impact on the Strait of Hormuz. Given China’s keenness to safeguard its investments and interests through the Belt and Road Initiative, Iran constitutes a strategic juncture in this project. Any collapse or full-scale war in Iran would harm Chinese interests. Therefore, China prefers the principle of avoiding military confrontation, favoring diplomatic solutions to manage balances rather than direct intervention in conflicts. This aligns with Egypt’s role for China, which seeks to prevent escalation, especially given Egypt’s ongoing mediation efforts between the two sides. Thus, China relies on moderate regional powers, and Egypt possesses the experience and balanced relationships that allow it to open channels of communication between Tehran and Washington. This complements China’s previous diplomatic successes, such as its mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
