Iran, Egypt foreign ministers meet in New York in latest step toward restoration of ties

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) - Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on late Wednesday.

The meeting held at Egypt’s permanent mission to the UN is being seen as an important step toward full restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two foreign ministers had “comprehensive, positive and fruitful” discussions on issues of mutual interest, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Amir-Abdollahian and Shoukry emphasized continuing the process of dialogue between the two sides taking into account civilizational and cultural commonalities between the two countries, it said.

The two sides also stressed that strengthening relations and cooperation between Tehran and Cairo is not only in the interests of the two countries but will also have positive regional effects, the statement added.

Relations between Tehran and Cairo have seen ups and downs since 1979 when Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel and signed the controversial Camp David Accords.

Egypt’s decision to welcome deposed Iranian monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after the 1979 revolution and Tehran's move to name a street after former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's assassin deteriorated their ties further.

However, following the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Tehran and Cairo have significantly stepped up efforts to mend ties and restore full diplomatic ties.

At a press conference in New York on Thursday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the meeting between the Iranian and Egyptian foreign ministers can open a new chapter in Tehran-Cairo ties.

Raisi said Tehran does not see any obstacles in establishing full diplomatic ties with Cairo and the issue has been communicated to the Egyptian side as well.

At a ceremony to mark Eid al-Fitr in Tehran in June, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran welcomes the resumption and expansion of ties with Egypt.

His remarks came after Iranian government spokesperson Ali Bahadori Jahromi said Raisi has tasked the Foreign Ministry to initiate the formal process for the full restoration of ties with Egypt.