Iran to skip Gaza Peace Summit despite US invitation

The Islamic Republic of Iran will not participate in the summit scheduled to take place in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to an informed source cited by Tasnim.

Despite receiving an invitation, Tehran has decided not to attend the upcoming summit, the agency’s correspondent cited the source as saying.

Earlier, Axios reported that the US State Department had sent Iran an official invitation to participate in the summit.

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit is set to take place tomorrow, on October 12, in Egypt, with leaders from twenty countries expected to attend.

In late September, U.S. President Trump put forward a 20-point "Comprehensive End of Gaza War" plan, outlining phased exchanges of all 48 remaining hostages—approximately 20 alive and 28 bodies—for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners starting October 11, partial Israeli troop withdrawals, Hamas disarmament, increased humanitarian aid, and international oversight for reconstruction and a two-state solution framework. Indirect talks in Sharm el-Sheikh from October 7 to 9, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, initiated Phase 1 on October 10, with 12 hostages released on October 11 via the Rafah crossing.

The October 13 Sharm el-Sheikh "Peace Summit," co-chaired by Trump and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi with 20+ leaders, aims to formalise the ceasefire, discuss Phase 2 (full withdrawal), and deploy a multinational force.

By Khagan Isayev