DAR AL ISLAM-EGYPT / IRAN: IRAN WANTS TO DEEPEN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH EGYPT

IRAN: TEHRAN WANTS TO RESUME RELATIONS WITH EGYPT

Tehran, 4 Jan. (AKI) - Iran aims to resume relations with Egypt, a government spokesman told the Iranian students' news agency ISNA on Thursday. "There is a lot of potential for the two countries to cooperate in regional and international affairs though Egyptian officials need to take practical steps to realize this aim and normalize relations," ISNA quoted foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini as saying.

Iran and Egypt cut ties after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution because of Egypt's Camp David agreement the previous year with Israel, a country which the Islamic Republic does not recognize.

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Iran welcomes Egypt eagerness to boost bilateral cooperation

Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Mohammad-Ali Hosseini here Thursday welcomed Egypt's willingness to have positive and constructive cooperation with Iran.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit Tuesday called Cairo-Tehran ties "important".
Aboul Gheit, in his interview with the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, said several factors play role in consolidating bilateral ties and establishing peace and security in the region.

Iran and Egypt should take strides toward cementing ties as expansion of relations between regional countries will help promote security and stability, he said.

Hosseini said there is a host of potentials for the two states' regional and international cooperation.

To this end, Egyptian officials are expected to take major steps toward normalization of bilateral relations, added the spokesman.

He assured that the two important countries are able to play strategic roles in establishing peace and stability in the region and defend the interests of Islamic and Arab states against excessive demands of aliens and occupiers.


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Iran-Egypt comprehensive ties to thwart enemies' plots, Saffar-Harandi

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi said that comprehensive ties between Iran and Egypt can neutralize enemies' conspiracies aim to cause sectarian strife between Muslims.

Saffar-Harandi made the remark in a meeting with Head of Egypt's Interest Section in Iran, Amr al-Zyat.

"Peoples of Iran and Egypt can enjoy a very close ties and interactions in various cultural, economic, political and international fields with respect to their historical and religious issues of mutual interests," he said.

He added that Muslim nations created great honors after the Islamic era through their scientific and cultural development and establishment of the great Islamic civilization.

He stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation between Tehran and Cairo particularly in cultural fields.

"In the modern history, our nation regarded Egypt as a strong obstacle in the way of extremism of the Zionist regime," the minister said.

He added that the Iranian people strongly defends the country's scientific achievements particularly in peaceful nuclear fields and expressed confidence Islamic states would help Iran materialize its goals.

Al-Zyat, for his part, said Iran and Egypt enjoy a deep-rooted ties in various areas of culture and art.

Pointing to Egypt's stance on Iran's peaceful nuclear program, he added that his country has repeatedly announced at international circles that Iran's case should be settled through negotiations with no tension.

He submitted an invitation of Egyptian minister of Awqaf (religious endowment) to Saffar-Harandi to attend a conference scheduled to be held in Egypt by the High Council of Islamic Affairs to discuss problems of the Islamic world in line with globalization.

He expressed his condolences over demise of former Iranian justice minister Jamal Karimi-Rad who was killed last Thursday in a road accident.


Pertinent Links:

1) IRAN: TEHRAN WANTS TO RESUME RELATIONS WITH EGYPT

2) Iran welcomes Egypt eagerness to boost bilateral cooperation

3) Iran-Egypt comprehensive ties to thwart enemies' plots, Saffar-Harandi