Sharm el-Sheikh: Peace or a Stage for Power Play?
WANA (Oct 14) – The 2025 Sharm el-Sheikh Summit was less a symbol of America’s return to the Middle East than a reflection of the inner crisis of the Western order itself. What was presented as a “conference for Middle East peace” turned, in practice, into a theatrical — almost comic — display of U.S. power in the East. The smiles, applause, and cheerfulness of the officials listening to Donald Trump’s remarks in Israel were, in truth, little more than a desperate attempt to mask failures and seek protection for the uncertain days ahead.
Trump’s lengthy October 13 address to the Knesset, filled with boasts about U.S. and Israeli capabilities in the region, may have pleased some, but it is doubtful that the euphoria will last. Many still believe that the temperament of Israel’s rulers leaves little room for Trump’s lofty assertion that “the world seeks peace.”
Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on October 13, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The conspicuous absence of Iran drew wide attention. Alongside Iran, Russia and China — arguably the three most influential actors in regional affairs — were also missing from the summit.
From the stage setup to the order of speakers, every aspect of Sharm el-Sheikh carried the scent of spectacle. Even the main podium used during the closing ceremony was the official lectern of the White House, despite Egypt being the formal host of the event.
Europe, once Washington’s strategic partner, seemed reduced to the role of an invited spectator — there to applaud rather than to decide.
In most international gatherings, the final photo is taken as a group shot, a gesture toward symbolic equality among nations. But in Sharm el-Sheikh, each leader stood alone before Trump for an individual photo — a scene that looked less like political cooperation and more like a ritual of allegiance.
World leaders lining up to take individual photos with Trump. Social media / WANA News Agency
In his closing remarks, Trump openly declared America’s “unmatched leadership” in bringing peace to the Middle East and, in a mocking tone, warned Arab and European leaders: “I don’t like some of you — but I won’t say which ones.” This not only violated diplomatic norms but also revealed a world order in which respect follows power, not principle.
Trump turned foreign policy into an extension of his personal brand. He mocked Canada’s prime minister, taunted the Emirati representative with the phrase “money, money, endless money,” made offhand remarks about Italy’s premier, and even humiliated Egypt’s president — the host of the summit — by pointedly refusing his handshake. That moment symbolized the complete collapse of diplomatic decorum in the face of a craving for dominance.
Trump’s refusal to shake hands with el-Sisi. Social media / WANA News Agency
From Tehran’s perspective, the Sharm el-Sheikh gathering was a vivid reminder of what the Islamic Republic has warned about for nearly half a century: a hegemonic order inherently built on humiliation — even of its own allies. It is this fundamental difference in worldview that separates Iran’s foreign policy from that of America’s regional partners.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated: “Participation in global developments is not defined by physical presence at a single event.” The message was clear: Tehran prefers to remain an observer rather than play a pre-scripted role in a stage managed by Washington. Responding to Trump’s anti-Iran remarks in the Knesset, the ministry asserted: “As the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism, the United States has no moral authority to accuse others.” Repeated false claims about Iran’s nuclear program, it said, were nothing but “a pretext for crimes and aggression.”
To international observers, Trump’s conduct may have seemed a matter of personal style. But when leaders from countries like Pakistan, the UAE, or even the UK show such deference before a U.S. president, the issue is no longer personal — it is civilizational. Even Siavash Ardalan, a BBC Persian journalist, wrote that Iran’s attendance at such a summit would have been “a humiliation and a disgrace” — inadvertently affirming Tehran’s judgment.
Iran’s Meaningful Absence from Sharm el-Sheikh
WANA (Oct 14) – On the surface, Egypt’s invitation to Iran to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit appeared to be a green light for Tehran’s return to the regional dialogue table. In reality, however, Iran’s firm rejection of the invitation carried a message far beyond the bounds of ordinary diplomacy. The invitation was […]
Trump’s remarks about Iran in the Israeli Knesset carried an added meaning. “If Iran had obtained nuclear weapons,” he said, “Arab states would never have agreed to a Gaza ceasefire.” The statement was an implicit acknowledgment of a modern truth: in today’s world, only nations with deterrent power have a voice — others remain on the margins.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared: “America’s claim to seek peace stands in stark contradiction to its hostile and criminal actions against the Iranian people.” The message was unmistakable: a country that attacks others in the midst of dialogue cannot credibly speak of peace.
Trump’s trip to the region can thus be seen as a final attempt to reconstruct an “order of loyalty” — one built from Riyadh to Cairo, from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv — founded on fear and the spectacle of strength.
Sharm el-Sheikh 2025 revealed more clearly than ever that today’s global politics resembles a stage: dazzlingly lit, full of noise and motion, yet devoid of meaning. By choosing not to attend, Iran achieved what others, through their attendance, could not — a reassertion of dignity. Perhaps the greatest lesson of this summit is the same one Tehran has repeated for nearly half a century: the hegemon humiliates even its friends, but a nation that stands firm on its principles commands true power.
