Egypt’s Willingness to Resume Ties with Iran Receives Tehran’s Positive Response

Iran on Wednesday received well a recent proposal by Egypt’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi for the promotion of the bilateral ties between the two sides, and said it is ready to resume relations with Cairo.
“There have been many ups and downs in the two countries’ relations and we hope that under the new conditions we will witness further expansion of relations between the two great nations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.

He also underlined that there is no doubt that good ties between the two countries would help restore stability, security and development to the entire region.

Salehi said that the Egyptian people strived to materialize their justice seeking moves which was regarded as a new chapter in the country’s history.

“We would like to once again congratulate them on the occasion,” he concluded.

Al-Arabi in his first press conference on Tuesday announced Cairo’s preparedness to open “a new page with Iran”.

The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.

He further stated that the establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.

Al-Arabi’s remarks came after eighteen days of anti-government protests in crisis-hit Egypt resulted in the historic overthrow of the 82-year-old former President Hosni Mubarak, who quit on February 11, handing over power to a military council.

Tehran and Cairo have not had full diplomatic relations since 1979.

Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with Israel and provided asylum to Iran’s deposed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.