Iran ready to send ambassador to Egypt

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic is ready to send its ambassador to Egypt as soon as Egyptian officials announce their readiness.

“We are certain that [bilateral] relations will improve in future,” Salehi said on Saturday, adding that Iran will wait a few months until the situation is appropriate for Egypt to take a step.

“Iran and Egypt are two important countries whose relations are rooted in history,” the Iranian minister added, saying that during the past two decades bilateral ties had been effected by the policies of Egypt’s former rulers.

In April, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi called for the normalization of ties with Iran, saying Cairo is committed to mending relations with Tehran.

Tehran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran’s deposed monarch Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi.

Salehi criticized the latest US report on terror in which Iran has been named a sponsor state of terrorism.

“Is our support of Hezbollah that legitimately defends its country terrorism? Is spiritual support of Hamas whose country has been occupied terrorism? If this is terrorism they must reconsider [their definition].”

In its latest terrorism report released on August 18, the US Department accused Iran of continuing to fund, train, and provide weapons and ammunition to extremists in neighboring Iraq.