Cairo: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli condemned in the strongest terms the targeting of Arab countries and attempts to drag them into the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against Iran. He reaffirmed Egypt's full support for Arab countries that have been subjected to unjustified attacks. Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Council of Ministers' headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Madbouli said the government is monitoring developments around the clock.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the prime minister noted that the scale and duration of the ongoing war remain unpredictable, highlighting the complexity of the situation. Proactive meetings have been held and a crisis committee formed, chaired by the prime minister and including relevant ministers, as well as security and sovereign authorities, to assess the situation on an ongoing basis.
Madbouli explained that the repercussions of the conflict have disrupted energy supply chains, trade flows, and the availability of goods and services, in addition to driving up global prices. He cited oil prices, which rose from 62 dollars per barrel before the outbreak of the war to 83 dollars, then 93 dollars, and at one point to 120 dollars per barrel, before settling at 93 dollars following statements from the U.S. administration. The prime minister stressed that the government continues to bear part of the increase in energy prices.
He added that once the war ends and its repercussions subside, the state will review the decisions and measures taken to confront the extraordinary circumstances. Madbouli emphasized that Egypt had been keen from the beginning to exert every possible effort to prevent the outbreak of war with Iran, fully aware of the serious repercussions such a conflict could have on the region. Despite all diplomatic efforts, the war broke out, underscoring the challenging nature of the situation.
Speaking during a press conference, Madbouli highlighted that the government had taken early steps to prepare for exceptional circumstances resulting from regional escalation, including maintaining strategic reserves inside Egypt and securing future contracts for gas and fuel supplies based on daily pricing mechanisms. The prime minister noted that the recent rise in fuel prices represents an unprecedented increase within a short period, creating significant uncertainty about developments in the coming weeks.
The Crisis Committee held two intensive meetings over the past 48 hours to closely assess the evolving situation. Madbouli confirmed that the conflict has caused severe disruptions to global supply chains, particularly in the energy sector, noting that these disruptions are already affecting the availability and prices of many goods and services. The importance of round-the-clock monitoring to safeguard the national economy was stressed.
Madbouli announced the government's decision to extend increased cash support for beneficiaries of the Takaful and Karama program and low-income families holding ration cards for an additional two months until Eid al-Adha. This extension is part of the government's social protection package aimed at supporting the most vulnerable groups. A new package of measures to improve wages and incomes for employees of the state administrative apparatus is also being prepared, scheduled to take effect starting from the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
The details of the proposed package are currently being finalized and will soon be presented to Abdel Fattah El Sisi for approval before being officially announced. Madbouli emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening social protection and improving living standards amid economic pressures stemming from ongoing regional military developments.
Egypt currently has sufficient supplies of energy and natural gas to meet the needs of the electricity, industrial and household sectors, ensuring stable energy supplies essential for sustaining economic activity and production. The government had two options regarding energy prices: maintaining current prices and bearing the full cost difference or adjusting prices to ensure the continued operation of the economy and the production cycle.