Speaker: Promoting ties shape bright future for Iran, Egypt
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament emphasized parliamentary cooperation with Egypt, saying that with the realization of the collaboration, a bright future lies ahead of both countries.
During a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Hanafi Gebali, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that parliamentary cooperation can be highly effective in the sustainable development of relations between North African countries and the West Asia region, as well as in addressing various regional issues, ISNA reported.
“If the cooperation is achieved, there is a promising outlook for improved relations between the two countries,” the Iranian lawmaker added. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Johannesburg.
Referring to Egypt as a great Islamic country with significant influence, Qalibaf said the BRICS parliamentary meeting is a great opportunity for Muslim states in the West Asia and North Africa regions to strengthen bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
During the meeting, the Egypt’s House of Representatives speaker expressed his pleasure at meeting with his Iranian counterpart and the high-ranking parliamentary delegation of Iran.
“I believe that by participating in the BRICS group, we have taken the right path for the development of our two countries,” Gebali said.
To further enhance parliamentary relations, both sides invited their counterparts to visit each other’s capitals.
Egypt severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after it welcomed the deposed Pahlavi ruler of Iran and recognized the Israeli regime.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, met on September 20 on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani described the meeting as a turning point in Tehran-Cairo relations and a positive step within the framework of Iran’s diplomacy of enhancing ties with regional countries.