Dialogue channels with Iran not closed: Egypt
A source familiar with the mediated talks between Iran and Egypt said on Tuesday that channels of communication between Tehran and Cairo have not been stopped and the talks are ongoing within the “framework of special departments”. The source declined to provide further explanation about these special departments.
The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran “expressed its great respect for Egypt and its political leaders.”
However, the source added, it is difficult to predict when Egypt will take a step towards resuming relations with Iran and how quickly it will respond to the proposal made by Iran.
The source elaborated that there are no major differences between the two countries and the differences between the two sides are related to Tehran’s support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the general principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries and issues related to the national security of Egypt and the Arab world.
Responding to the question of whether the restoration of relations with Egypt is on the agenda, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday, “Egypt is an important country and the two countries value each other in the region. The region needs the positive capacity and synergy of Tehran and Cairo.”
Recalling that the last bilateral talks between the two countries took place in Amman this fall and on the sidelines of the Baghdad II summit, Kanaani said, “Brief but positive talks were held with Mr. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the President of Egypt, on the sidelines of the Baghdad II summit. We believe in the need to take new steps to improve the relations between the two countries.”
He added that political relations between countries are “always a two-way street, and we must see what the other side do in this two-way street.”
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani’s plan to start negotiations with Egypt through Iraqi mediation.