Continuous improvement in Iranian-Egyptian relations
Recent bilateral contacts and official meetings between Iran and Egypt have indicated that relations between the two countries are witnessing rapid development and improvement.
Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Reza Salehi Amiri told the Iranian News agency IRNA that bilateral talks were held to resume relations with Egypt, noting that the government’s strategy aims to reopen the route to Egypt.
He added that his country had invited the Egyptian private sector to participate in major Iranian tourism projects, a move welcomed by many who are betting on the two major Islamic countries.
According to observers, the rapprochement with Iran came at the right time, following what appears to be a clear estrangement between Egypt and the Gulf.
Dr. Yasser Abu Shadi, a nuclear energy expert who attended the recent meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Cairo, says that, one of the most important points the Iranian minister mentioned about the beginning of the restoration of relations between Egypt and Iran was the Iranian decision to remove the name of the street named after Khaled al Islambouli (Sadat’s assassin) from the capital, Tehran, within a month, without any Iranian conditions.
Abu Shadi added that the Egyptian delegation that attended the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s meeting welcomed this development, which strengthens the resumption of relations.
The repercussions of Araghchi’s visit were positive and promising, and it was described as an important visit that paves the way for a normal return to relations and bilateral cooperation that benefits regional security.
In the same context, Egyptian diplomat Gamal Bayoumi believes that current relations between Egypt and Iran are excellent, noting that Iran owns the largest building overlooking the Nile in Cairo, and that trade relations are strong, with each country sending its best ambassadors as heads of interest-representation missions.
Ambassador Bayoumi recalls that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry previously responded to former US President Joe Biden, rejecting his proposal to establish an Arab alliance similar to NATO to confront Iran.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry affirmed that Iran is a sister Islamic state, while the enemy is the one killing our children and occupying our lands.
This prompted the US President to withdraw his proposal and demand a two-state solution.
He concludes by calling for remembering that it was Iran that severed relations with Egypt at the time of the peace treaty.
What was striking after the reopening of the issue on restoring Egyptian-Iranian relations were the welcome many people gave to the move, emphasizing that Iran is a major, important, and influential country in our region, both Arab and Islamic.
