Egyptian president coming to Tehran for NAM summit

TEHRAN,Aug.21(MNA) - Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi will visit Iran to attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit later this month, Egyptian state news agency MENA reported on Saturday. The announcement of the visit came as a shock to Israel and the West who had expected Morsi will not participate in the high-profile conference. Egypt is the current head of the NAM. It is set to hand over to Iran in the Tehran meeting. It will be the first such visit by an Egyptian head of state to Tehran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. MENA quoted sources at the Egyptian presidency as saying that Morsi "will participate in the summit" on his way back from China. Since Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising last year, Egypt and Iran have signaled interest in renewing ties severed more than 30 years ago after Egypt's recognition of Israel. The visit could begin a thaw between the two countries. Experts have said the trip could reshape the Middle East political landscape.